Two RAF Typhoon fighter jets were scrambled from RAF Coningsby on Friday after a business jet travelling from Nice to the UK lost contact with air traffic control, causing a sonic boom that echoed across parts of Essex.
The intercepted aircraft, a Bombardier Global Express registered T7-SGH in San Marino, was met over Cambridgeshire before being escorted to Stansted Airport. The jet was directed to a secure stand on the northern side of the airfield, away from passenger terminals, where Essex Police confirmed there was no security threat.
An RAF spokesperson confirmed that Quick Reaction Alert aircraft were launched, though no further operational details were given at the time of the incident.
The Eurofighter Typhoon, jointly developed by the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Spain, serves as the UK’s primary air defence platform. Designed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, it features advanced avionics, sensor fusion technology and exceptional agility for combat manoeuvres. Entering RAF service in 2003, it remains at the forefront of Britain’s air security.
Powered by two Eurojet EJ200 afterburning turbofan engines, the Typhoon can reach speeds exceeding Mach 2 and operate at altitudes of up to 55,000 feet. Its range can be extended via in-flight refuelling, allowing for prolonged patrols and interception missions.
Armaments include a 27 mm Mauser BK-27 cannon and a variety of missiles and bombs such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM, Meteor, ASRAAM, Paveway laser-guided bombs and Brimstone missiles. The Captor-M radar and Defensive Aids Sub-System provide exceptional situational awareness and survivability in contested airspace.
