Fighter jets scrambled after pilots of bomb hoax flight 'refused to land'

Two fighter jets were scrambled to an Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome after prosecutors said the pilots allegedly refused to comply with a bomb-threat diversion request. The incident involved Flight EI402, which was instructed to divert over France after a hoax threat. Passengers described it as terrifying to see fighter jets alongside the airliner on Thursday. Prosecutor Rémi Coutin said the pilots wanted to land at a commercial airport when the threat was revealed, but the fighter jets were used to ensure the plane landed at Évreux, a military base. An investigation is under way and both pilots have been questioned in France; they are allowed to leave after being interviewed. Aer Lingus said the captain and crew acted “impeccably,” and the Irish Airline Pilots Association said the questioning is generally standard.