RAF fighter jets scrambled to escort plane to Stansted Airport after it failed to respond to air traffic control

RAF fighter jets were scrambled to escort a light plane to Stansted Airport on Saturday (March 4) after it failed to respond to air traffic control.

The plane was flying from Iceland to Nairobi in Kenya via Southend on Saturday (March 4).

It was escorted to Stansted by two Eurofighter Typhoon jets from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, which are on standby 24/7 for such situations.

They caused a sonic boom which was heard all over the Midlands as they went supersonic on their flight south. An RAF Voyager tanker aircraft was also scrambled to enable the Typhoons to refuel whilst airborne.

The plane that triggered the RAF Quick Reaction Alert landed shortly before 12.50pm on Saturday.

Two people were on board: a pilot and co-pilot.

A spokesperson for Essex Police said: "Officers engaged with them and carried out enquiries [and] are satisfied there was a loss of contact due to an equipment malfunction and nothing of any concern."

The plane and those on board were released to continue their journey to East Africa.

The speed of sound in air ranges from 740 miles per hour to 767mph depending on the temperature. At 20C (68F) the speed of sound in air is about 343 metres per second (1,125 ft/s), or one mile in 4.69 seconds or one kilometre in 2.91 seconds.