Case of 13 ‘missing’ aircraft unprecedented, stumps European authorities
The sudden disappearance of 13 aircraft from radars over Austria and neighbouring countries for 25 minutes has authorities urging a probe over the unprecedented event, AP reported.
According to Austria's flight service monitor, the 13 aircraft suddenly vanished from the radar screens between June 5 and 10 for 25 minutes each.
AP quoted Marcus Pohanka of Austria's flight service organisation, Austro Control, as saying the air traffic controllers screen did not show the 13 flights.
Air traffic control in the neighbouring regions of Germany and the Czech Republic also reported similar issues.
In what he called an unprecedented incident, Pohanka told Reuters that the location, height, and identity of the 13 aircraft indicated that they had vanished over Austria both times.
AP reported that flight controllers in Munich, Karlsruhe and Prague also experienced the same problems.
Pohanka declined to reveal which airlines and aircraft were involved, but suggested some may have been commercial airliners which flew at high altitudes.
The European Union's Eurocontrol and European Safety Aviation Safety Agency is expected to probe the incidents.
AP quoted Pohanka as saying that at no time were any of the aircraft in danger as additional air traffic controllers were immediately deployed.
Emergency measures such as immediately establishing voice contact with the pilots and the widening of flight corridors were also implemented.
Reuters reported that an anonymous expert said the problem could have been caused by interference between aircraft transponders and the ground.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 also experienced similar issues when it suddenly dropped off the radar on March 8 while on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
Despite extensive searches in the South China Sea and the Straits of Malacca, there has been no sign of the aircraft or its 12 crew members and 227 passengers.
Malaysia's military radar did pick up MH370 but no aircraft were deployed as it was considered non-hostile. – June 13, 2014.
