Hungarian jets intercept Cathay Pacific flight after radio loss

Key facts

• Hungarian fighter jets intercepted a Cathay Pacific flight that lost radio contact.
• The incident occurred in Romanian airspace, prompting a NATO alert.
• The Cathay Pacific flight was en route from Hong Kong to London Heathrow.
• Hungarian jets issued a visual warning to the passenger aircraft.

Two Hungarian fighter jets intercepted a London-bound Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. passenger flight and issued a visual warning after the aircraft temporarily lost radio contact over Eastern Europe on July 4. Flight CX257, an Airbus A350 flying from Hong Kong to Heathrow Airport, lost contact with Romanian air-traffic control while in Romanian airspace, prompting NATO to scramble jets under its Quick Reaction Alert-Intercept mechanism. Hungarian fighter jets were scrambled to escort the aircraft after it triggered a NATO alert.