Two RAF Typhoon jets were scrambled from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire on Wednesday morning after a private aircraft lost contact with air traffic control, causing a sonic boom heard across parts of southern England.
Residents in Essex, Kent, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, and London reported hearing a loud bang around 11:30am, with some describing their homes shaking. The noise was later confirmed to be a sonic boom from the Typhoon jets breaking the sound barrier while intercepting the civilian plane.
The aircraft, a Bombardier Global Express registered in San Marino, was flying from Nice, France, when communications were lost. It was safely escorted to Stansted Airport, where Essex Police confirmed there was nothing of concern. The incident did not affect passenger flights.
An RAF spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that RAF Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon fighter aircraft from RAF Coningsby were launched today to investigate a civilian aircraft which was not in contact with air traffic control. Communications were re-established and the aircraft was safely escorted to Stansted.'
Essex Police received reports of the sonic boom around 11:40am and confirmed the plane had been escorted to Stansted after losing contact. The Typhoons have since returned to base.
