A Royal Air Force F-35 jet was behind the loud aircraft noise heard by residents under Newcastle Airport flight paths on Wednesday evening, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. The jet was operating as part of a planned training exercise, with some locals describing the sound as a level of noise "we've never heard before".
The aircraft was heard overhead between around 9pm and 10.30pm, prompting questions on social media. One poster referred to a "loud rumble" which "sounded like a plane but really loud", while another said it was "so loud over Longbenton". A third said they had heard the noise around 10.30pm and added: "We often hear noise from the airport but never heard something that loud before".
Training Exercise Confirmed
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence confirmed that the noise was due to a routine planned training evolution from an F-35 jet operating from the HMS Prince of Wales Royal Navy aircraft carrier, which landed at Newcastle Airport.
The HMS Prince of Wales is part of the Carrier Strike Group. Earlier this week, the Royal Navy announced that HMS Prince of Wales had "set sail for the Arctic and North Atlantic". Britain's flagship aircraft carrier is deployed alongside NATO allies as a "powerful shield for the nation" the Royal Navy said to "ensure the critical energy, trade, and communication links we all rely on everyday in the region remain secure".
Deployment Details
The aircraft carrier is accompanied by a Type-45 destroyer HMS Dauntless and is furnished with aircraft including F35 Jets, helicopters and drones. The Royal Navy added: "Over 1,200 British personnel are deployed as part of the Carrier Strike Group, working closely with allies including Norway, Denmark and Germany on operations designed to test and strengthen NATO interoperability, ensuring we remain ready to respond to global events."
At the beginning of this week, Armed Forces Minister Louise Sandher-Jones MP said: "The deployment of the HMS Prince of Wales and her air wing to the High North and the North Atlantic, operating under NATO leadership, is a clear demonstration of the UK’s commitment to the Alliance and contribution to the enduring security and stability of the North Atlantic."
Upcoming Events
HMS Prince of Wales will, in Oslo, host a gathering of military and political leaders focussing on collective security in Northern Europe.
Commodore Richard Hewitt is commander on the operation. He said: "I am delighted to return to the Arctic and North Atlantic as we build on the successes of the first phase of Op Firecrest. Led by the UK Flagship HMS Prince of Wales, the Strike Group will bring together a range of assets and capabilities, while taking every opportunity to train, operate and integrate with our NATO Allies and Partners."
