THE Thai air force scrambled two F-16 fighter jets to the Thai-Myanmar border to intercept an unidentified aircraft that had intruded into Thai airspace yesterday (Dec. 20), Naewna newspaper said last night.
ACM Prapass Sonjai, the air force spokesman, said at 11 a.m. yesterday two F-16 fighter jets were deployed to intercept the unidentified aircraft which showed up on the radar as having breached Thai airspace at Popphra district of Tak, across the shared border from Myawaddy township in southern Myanmar.
The intruding aircraft was flying at an altitude of 4,000-5,000 feet and the interception flight control unit ordered the two F-16 fighter jets to take off from Wing 4, Takhli district, Nakhon Sawan province and fly at 7,000 feet to identify and intercept it.
It was later found that this aircraft had disappeared from the radar after which the two Thai fighter jets patrolled the border airspace returning to the base at 12.14 p.m.
That the air force had quickly scrambled jets to intercept the unidentified aircraft that breached Thai airspace and likely posed a threat to Thailand shows that it is ready to protect Thai airspace and the nation’s sovereignty in order to ensure the safety of people living along the border, he said.
CAPTION:
Thai F-16 fighter jets flying on a mission to protect the border. Photo: Naewna
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