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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Sonic booms heard as RAF scrambles Typhoons | Sonic booms heard as RAF scrambles Typhoons |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Loud bangs heard in parts of Yorkshire were sonic booms from Typhoon jets scrambled to identify "an unresponsive civilian aircraft", the RAF has said. | Loud bangs heard in parts of Yorkshire were sonic booms from Typhoon jets scrambled to identify "an unresponsive civilian aircraft", the RAF has said. |
| The aircraft were launched from RAF Coningsby, in Lincolnshire, on Monday and helped guide an Air France plane to a safe landing in Newcastle. | The aircraft were launched from RAF Coningsby, in Lincolnshire, on Monday and helped guide an Air France plane to a safe landing in Newcastle. |
| People reported their houses shaking at about 21:50 BST after hearing what sounded like two loud explosions. | People reported their houses shaking at about 21:50 BST after hearing what sounded like two loud explosions. |
| These were later confirmed to have been sonic booms. | These were later confirmed to have been sonic booms. |
| More on this and other West Yorkshire stories | |
| An RAF spokesman said on Monday night: "Quick reaction alert Typhoon aircraft were launched today from RAF Coningsby to identify an unresponsive civilian aircraft. | |
| "Communications were re-established and the aircraft has been safely landed." | "Communications were re-established and the aircraft has been safely landed." |
| Radio problem | Radio problem |
| Reports suggested the jets had escorted the plane after it went off course. | Reports suggested the jets had escorted the plane after it went off course. |
| Air France confirmed that the unresponsive civilian aircraft was one of its planes. | Air France confirmed that the unresponsive civilian aircraft was one of its planes. |
| The airline tweeted from its official UK Twitter account: "Air France confirms that due to a radio communication problem AF 1558 had to be accompanied by two British fighter aircrafts according to the procedure. | The airline tweeted from its official UK Twitter account: "Air France confirms that due to a radio communication problem AF 1558 had to be accompanied by two British fighter aircrafts according to the procedure. |
| "The aircraft landed in Newcastle at 22:20 (LT). Safety of clients & crew is an absolute priority." | "The aircraft landed in Newcastle at 22:20 (LT). Safety of clients & crew is an absolute priority." |
| North Yorkshire Police had tweeted to reassure people there was no danger, later writing: "Confirmation from RAF that loud bangs heard across the county were sonic booms from RAF Typhoon jets. No cause for concern." | North Yorkshire Police had tweeted to reassure people there was no danger, later writing: "Confirmation from RAF that loud bangs heard across the county were sonic booms from RAF Typhoon jets. No cause for concern." |
| One woman wrote: "house shook & whole street was out, car & house alarms gone off. Apparently was a sonic boom". | One woman wrote: "house shook & whole street was out, car & house alarms gone off. Apparently was a sonic boom". |
| What is a sonic boom? | |
| A sonic boom is created as an aircraft breaks the sound barrier, causing a high-energy shockwave. | |
| When an aircraft approaches the speed of sound, the air in front of the nose builds up a pressure front because it has "nowhere to escape", Dr Jim Wild of Lancaster University said. | |
| It can be heard over a large area because "it moves with the plane", similar to the wake on the bow of a ship spreading out behind the vessel, Dr Wild added. |