Typhoon jets were scrambled on Monday night to intercept a wayward Air France airliner over Yorkshire – with the deafening booms caused by the supersonic pursuit shaking residents in their houses.
The aircraft were launched from RAF Coningsby to identify an unresponsive civilian aircraft, the Ministry of Defence said. The loud bangs were later confirmed to have been sonic booms.
An RAF spokesman said: “Quick reaction alert Typhoon aircraft were launched today from RAF Coningsby to identify an unresponsive civilian aircraft. Communications were re-established and the aircraft has been safely landed.”
Air France confirmed that the unresponsive civilian aircraft was one of its planes.
“Air France confirms that due to a radio communication problem AF 1558 had to be accompanied by two British fighter aircrafts according to the procedure,” the airline said.
“The aircraft landed in Newcastle at 22.20 (LT). Safety of clients & crew is an absolute priority.”
North Yorkshire police earlier tweeted to reassure people there was no danger, later writing: “Confirmation from RAF that loud bangs heard across the county were sonic booms from RAF Typhoon jets. No cause for concern.”
One woman wrote: “House shook & whole street was out, car & house alarms gone off. Apparently was a sonic boom.”
Another tweeted: “Those vibrations shook my house and scared me to death. #QRATYPHOON had me out of my bed.”
In April two bangs heard around Northampton and Brackley were caused by Typhoon jets that had been scrambled from an RAF base in Lincolnshire to identify an unresponsive aircraft.
With the Press Association