Incident: Algerie B738 near Marseille on Jan 9th 2018, loss of communication prompts intercept


An Air Algerie Boeing 737-800, registration 7T-VKK performing flight AH-1460 from Constantine (Algeria) to Lyon (France), was enroute at FL360 nearing Marseille (France) when the crew did not report on French frequencies and did not respond to several calls by French Air Traffic Control on various frequencies. France dispatched two Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft to intercept the Boeing, communication was restored afterwards and the Boeing continued to Lyon for a safe landing escorted by the fighter aircraft.

France's Ministry of Defense reported the crew did not respond to numerous calls by different air traffic control centers on various frequencies, therefore two Mirage 2000 were dispatched to check the aircraft.

According to gossip running with the airline the captain had left the cockpit at that time and was chatting with cabin crew, the new first officer got overwhelmed in the meantime.