Date: 201811
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: LFFF.ARTCC, FO
Flight conditions: VMC
Aircraft: B767 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Flight phase: Cruise
ATC / advisory: Center LFFF
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Not Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Communication Breakdown
Second reporter function: Relief Pilot; First Officer
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Security; Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: Ambiguous

Narrative: I was the Captain on Aircraft X.  About an hour into the flight with French controllers we received several ACARS messages from Dispatch saying French Air Force would like to speak with us. The next message said that Jets 'could' be sent out. I immediately contacted our current active French controller and he said he did not know and sent us to Paris. I checked in with Paris Control and at the same time started broadcasting on 121.5 that we were in contact with previous frequency and now on with Paris Control. I heard a faint voice ask who we were and where we were going. I responded and I heard something to the effect of signing off. I had sent quick message to dispatch on the ACARS and then called Dispatch on SATCOM. They were as confused as we were and said they were given the wrong frequency for us to contact. Shortly after my SATCOM conversation with Dispatch; the Paris controller said our Company Operations needs to speak with us and are unable. I told Paris we were in contact with our Dispatch. Paris came back again and said contact company operations. I called Dispatch on SATCOM and they were again confused as we were. We suspected French ATC were talking to Company ops in Paris which might have caused the confusion. We were also told by Paris Control the Air Force could possibly take a look to see who we were. I assume because they were told we were not in communications with the company. We never saw nor were we contacted by any Air Force jets. I don't know who we spoke with on 121.5 but it appeared to be some French authority possibly the Air Force. We continued with Paris control with no further issue. When we landed I immediately called our Dispatcher who said he was working the previous 7 hours and knew nothing about this. He added that he had no notes or briefing from previous dispatcher. He also checked with the Chief Dispatcher and he said there were no issues reported to them. During my SATCOM conversation with Dispatch we both concluded that Company Paris Operations were somehow involved and speaking with Paris controller. This is what could have caused the confusion and the thought that we were not in contact with our company. I asked Dispatch to contact Paris ops and explain to them that we are talking to Paris ATC and Dispatch. I would also say we were never on a dead or weak frequency and never lost comm. It's possible we were sent to the wrong frequency but we were acknowledged and remained with that controller until he sent us to Paris control. I also wear my headset throughout Europe because of the language difficulties. At no time were we unable to communicate with the company or ATC nor were we ever off course or changed our speed. We suspect Paris ops were called and tried to reach us on a company frequency. Operations should be informed that in the future they need to contact Dispatch and explain to ATC to do the same.


Second narrative: I was out of the cockpit on crew rest when the event occurred. Upon returning I was advised that at approximately [time]; Dispatch advised via ACARS that Paris Control asked our flight to contact French Air Force Center on 121.5 for reasons unknown or 'jets could be sent out'. It is my understanding that our aircraft was in constant positive contact with Paris ATC at all times. The Captain spoke with dispatch on SATCOM and they advised that they did not know why we were asked to call.


Synopsis: B767 flight crew reported receiving conflicting messages from ATC and Dispatch concerning a potential foreign military intercept.