Sonic boom heard as plane escorted into Essex airport by RAF fighter jet
Residents reported hearing a "loud explosion" across south Essex including in Basildon, Brentwood, and further afield in Chelmsford, this morning.
This was after an RAF "quick reaction alert" Typhoon fighter aircraft was launched to investigate a plane not in contact with air traffic control.
The flight, from Nice, had lost contact with the ground which was established after emergency services were contacted at around 11.40am today and the plane was escorted into Stansted Airport by the RAF aircraft.
On the ground, police determined there was nothing of concern with the plane.
More:
An Essex Police spokesman said: "You may have heard a sonic boom over Essex in the last hour or so.
"A flight has been escorted into Stansted Airport after it lost contact with the ground.
"We were called at around 11.40am today (Friday 15 August).
"Contact was re-established with the plane, which had been travelling from Nice, and was escorted into the airport by RAF aircraft.
"On the ground our officers determined there was nothing of concern."
A sonic boom is a loud explosion sound caused when an object travels through the air faster than the speed of sound.
An RAF spokesperson said: "We can confirm 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.
"The Typhoons are returning to base"
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