Sound barrier broken by F16s during aircraft interception over Netherlands

Posted by John McHaleSOESTERBERG, The Netherlands, 27 May 2011. Flying out of Volkel Air Base two F-16 fighters broke the sound barrier over Soesterberg, The Netherlands during a commercial aircraft intercept ordered by Netherlands military officials after radio contact with the aircraft -- which was heading to Stockholm, Sweden -- had been lost.Contact was re-established by one of the F-16 pilots by signaling to the airliner flight crew by hand. The airliner was then escorted to German air space by the F-16s.F-16s are on standby for air defense of Netherlands airspace for the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) task 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week. NATO officials give the orders for intercepting aircraft, which are then sent to the Nieuw Milligen Air Operations Control Station, which alerts the F-16s that are standby.