What should be done after completion of the intercept phase?

Transferring control of the aircraft back to Air Traffic Control (ATC) after the intercept phase is crucial because it ensures that the aircraft is safely integrated back into the broader airspace management system. Once the intercept has been completed, and the military or intercepting aircraft's objectives have been fulfilled, it is essential to return responsibility for the aircraft and its safe passage to ATC. This helps in re-establishing normal operational control and communication patterns within civilian airspace, allowing civilian flight operations to proceed without disruption.

Additionally, transferring control back to ATC is in line with standard operating procedures, which dictate that military operations should minimize their impact on civilian air traffic. This helps maintain overall safety and efficiency in the airspace system, as ATC can then provide the necessary services to manage other flights in the area.

While securing all intercept aircraft, conducting a debriefing, and returning aircraft to the original airspace are important actions in certain contexts, they do not take precedence over the necessity of re-establishing control with ATC after the intercept phase is completed.