In emergency situations it is totally normal to send fighter jets, less so as killing machines, more as agile planes with pilots skilled at close-quarter flying. The fighter pilots can assess the situation, guide the pilot (perhaps with a broken radio or other trouble?) down to safety. Or if it is hijacked and aimed at a nuclear plant, probably then shoot it down. This happens everywhere.

Of course this is a very convenient coincidence here that a random emergency happens with a wanted man in board...