Croatian Rafale intercepts Maltese passenger aircraft flagged as a potential threat | Phooto by MORH/ F. Klen
Croatian Rafale intercepts Maltese passenger aircraft flagged as a potential threat
Once again, the exceptional training and rapid response of Croatian pilots flying the Rafale multi-role fighter jets have been demonstrated under Air Policing operations
Today, at 11:02 a.m., a Croatian Rafale fighter jet – operating as part of the surveillance and protection of its national airspace (Air Policing) – intercepted a Maltese Boeing passenger aircraft over the Korenica area.
The pilot performed a visual identification and established radio communication with the aircraft. At 11:18 a.m., after conducting a combat air patrol in the area between Rijeka and Delnice, the Rafale escorted the Maltese aircraft out of Croatian airspace. The civilian aircraft entered Slovenian airspace at 11:20 a.m.
The operation was initiated following an order from the Combined Air Operations Centre in Torrejón (CAOC Torrejón), directing the Croatian Rafale on an interception mission to visually identify the Maltese aircraft.
The Maltese passenger aircraft was flying a route from Greece to Germany when the Combined Air Operations Centre in Torrejón designated the civilian aircraft as a potential threat. According to information from the Control and Reporting Centre in Italy, the civilian aircraft had its transponder set to code 7500, which signifies an aircraft hijacking.
During the Croatian Rafale’s air policing operation, and because the civilian aircraft had been flagged as a potential threat, Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers Ivan Anušić, Tomo Medved, Davor Božinović, and Oleg Butković coordinated with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, as well as with the Croatian Air Force.
This operation, conducted to protect Croatian airspace, once again demonstrated the exceptional training and rapid response capabilities of the Croatian pilots flying the Rafale multi-role fighter jets, as well as the advanced capabilities of these combat aircraft.
It also underscored the Republic of Croatia’s capability to independently monitor and protect its own airspace – a task it has been performing under Air Policing since 1 January 2026, utilizing Rafale jets within the framework of the NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence System (NATINAMDS).