Who pays for the fighter escorts and other associated expenses in case an airliner has to be escorted down?

Question

Recently a Northwest Airlines DC-10 was escorted down to the Schiphol airport. I am not sure if this is right, but I seem to have read somewhere that the pilot of the plane requested an escort. When offered other emergency support such as fire engines, he declined it.
Who pays for the money spent on scrambling the fighers
and other associated expenses in such cases? Does NW Airlines
have to shell it out, or does the US government pay for it, or does it work on the principle of reciprocity (i.e. if the Dutch airlines/government ever needs help, US will respond in kind)?
Or is such support covered under the NATO treaty, even
for civilian airlines?

Answer 1

First off, I have no clue why a moron would bother to answer a question... any question, with; "dunno"... OK, now to the question... One would think that the Airforce would tack it up as a training mission, since pilots have to get their practice in, but somehow they bill it to the federal govt... which (in either case) is still paid for by the tax payers... the difference to the Airforce is that their operating budget is not affected, and they can continue to go along with their planned training/operating schedule.

Answer 2

Proberly the Great & ripped off US tax-payer.

Answer 3

Great question. Now take it to the military site.

Answer 4

probably the tax payers

Answer 5

once we land on mars we can tell you

Answer 6

We do

Answer 7

dunno.