Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 4)— Air Force jets intercepted on Thursday an “unknown aircraft” which was headed towards the country’s airspace, the PAF disclosed on Saturday.
In a statement, the PAF said authorities issued a scramble order to two FA-50 jets after detecting an unidentified plane in the Philippine Air Defense Identification Zone — approximately 120 nautical miles northwest of Pangasinan.
“The unidentified aircraft was heading towards Philippine airspace. Coordination with the CAAP (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines) classified it to be an unknown track of interest,” PAF said.
About four minutes into the intercept, the aircraft “changed direction” and ran faster while moving away from the Philippine airspace, officials noted.
The intercept lasted for less than 10 minutes.
“In the past decades, aircraft flying without clearance would willfully violate the Philippine airspace knowing that they will not be challenged; today our airspace is being closely monitored jointly by the Philippine Air Force and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines,” PAF stressed.
