Military jets deployed after contact lost with private aeroplane

Lost contact: military jets were deployed (Picture: Rex)

24 July 2014

Military jets were deployed tonight after contact was lost with a plane.

The RAF aircraft - understood to be Typhoons - were used as a precaution after air traffic controllers were unable to communicate with the private aircraft.

It was accompanied by the military jets to Stansted Airport in Essex, where it landed safely shortly before 8pm.

A police statement said: "Military jets were deployed on a precautionary basis when a private jet was diverted to Stansted.

"This was due to a loss of communication with the aircraft. The aircraft landed safely at Stansted airport at 7.49pm.

"All three people who were on board have been spoken to by police, it was established that everything was in order and the police response was stood down."

The Ministry of Defence confirmed the aircraft were deployed because of a break in radio contact but a spokeswoman stressed there was "no threat".

The runway at the airport was shut for eight minutes before normal operations resumed.

A spokeswoman for air traffic control organisation Nats said: "We couldn't make voice communication with the aircraft which is why it was escorted to Stansted."

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