Sonic boom heard over Suffolk as RAF scrambles to intercept Ryanair flight

A sonic boom rolled over Suffolk when RAF jets on an emergency intercept were given permission to break the sound […]

A sonic boom rolled over Suffolk when RAF jets on an emergency intercept were given permission to break the sound barrier.

Quick reaction fighter jets were scrambled to escort a Ryanair flight from Lithuania and smashed the sound barrier in their race to reach the passenger airliner as quickly as possible.

They were scrambled to intercept the airliner amid a security alert, believed to be a hoax. Other civil aircraft were ordered to stay away.

The Ryanir flight from Lithuania was scheduled to land at Luton but it was diverted to Stansted where all other flights were grounded until the alert was over.

Safely escorted

“The RAF can confirm Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon aircraft were launched this morning from RAF Coningsby to intercept a civilian aircraft,” said a spokesman for the RAF.


Typhoon pilots at RAF Coningsby and RAF Lossiemouth are on standby 24 hours a day to defend UK airspace. Stansted is a designated airport for dealing with hijacks and major security alerts.

“Any inconvenience caused to local residents is regretted.”

A Ryanair spokesman said: “This flight from Kaunas to London Luton diverted to London Stansted in line with procedures after Lithuanian authorities received a suspected hoax security alert.

Momentary pause


The Typhoons were despatched from RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire to intercept the flight, the Ministry of Defence said.

At Stanstead Airport, in Essex, a spokesman said all flights have now resumed after being held for about ten minutes from 8.55am.

“Flights were briefly held while RAF Typhoons escorted the plane in.

Defence role

“All flights are now operating as normal. It was literally a momentary pause.”

Quick Reaction Alerts are a routine part of the RAF’s role in defending UK airspace.

Aircraft on Quick Reaction Alert duty are expected to be able to take off “within minutes” of being notified of a problem, the air force said.

They are often used to intercept unidentified planes, or to keep a watch on Russian bombers that threaten incursions into UK airspace.

Additional reporting by PA.