There is an Anti-Terrorist unit at the airport, as there was information from the CIA about a suspected Arab
Two F-16C Block.52+ ADV fighter jets of the Air Force took off as soon as the incident with the Emirates aircraft, which had started from Athens to the USA, became known, whose captain was ordered to immediately return to “Eleftherios Venizelos “, in order to accompany it for security reasons.
These fighters were the “readiness” aircraft of the 115th Fighter Wing, which took off for this purpose from the Souda Air Base, headed west where they met the passenger aircraft and headed together towards Athens International Airport.
PA fighters are on a “renegade” mission, i.e. dealing with a potential “terrorist” incident in the air, and as of this writing the Emirates aircraft has not yet arrived in Athens.
After information from the CIA, that a suspicious Arab passenger was on board the company’s flight from Athens, one was detained at the airport before take off and the second returned to land in Athens.
The first flight, EK210 bound for Dubai, was unable to take off and while the Boeing 777 was taxiing it was ordered to return.
The second, EK 209 bound for New York, had already taken off and was over Italy when the pilot was notified to land immediately.
However, neither France nor Italy allowed the aircraft to land at any of their airports and so it returns to Athens.
Passengers boarded the aircraft as normal, the doors closed and the aircraft taxied to the runway. However, before the process was completed, the captain informed the passengers that he had to return due to a technical problem.
When the aircraft reached the airport parking area again, the passengers were asked to disembark, taking all their luggage with them.
However, instead of following the usual procedure for similar cases, which requires passengers to simply go to the waiting room, they were subjected to a thorough police check in the presence of dozens of plainclothes officers.
SOURCE: parapolitika.gr
