Fighter jets intercept plane over south Warwickshire - The Stratford Observer

Fighter jets intercept plane over south Warwickshire

Stratford Editorial 7th Mar, 2017 Updated: 7th Mar, 2017   0

FIGHTER jets were called to escort a plane as it flew over Warwick and Leamington.

RAF Typhoon jets were scrambled from Coningsby air base in Lincolnshire to intercept a plane from Bucharest which was suffering from communication issues. It was then escorted to Birmingham Airport, where the runway was closed for half an hour.

Residents witnessed the planes flying across Warwick and Leamington at around 7.30am this morning, with many reporting hearing the loud roar of the Typhoon engines.

The cargo plane, which had three crew on board, was initially intercepted over the North Sea after it left the Romanian capital.




An RAF Spokesperson said: “The Royal Airforce can confirm that Typhoon aircraft from RAF Coningsby were launched this morning by Quick Reaction Alert mission to intercept a civilian aircraft that had lost communications.

“The aircraft was safely escorted to Birmingham International Airport.”


Quick Reaction Alert missions are launched by the RAF to intercept unidentified planes which have no flight plan, may have lost contact with air traffic control or failed to transmit a surveillance radar code.

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