Reports of a sonic boom been heard over Doncaster and Leeds are filtering through over social media following a QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) Typhoon scramble.
RAF Conningsbury has confirmed that QRA Typhoons were scrambled this evening, possibly down to an aircraft’s Mode-S Transponder been turned off which could indicate a hijack.
It is normal for Quick Reaction Alert Typhoons to be given Authority to break the sound barrier over land when scrambled & to be heard!!!
— RAF Coningsby Info (@EGXCinfo) 2 May 2016
Many local residents reported that their house had literally been shook by the noise of the Typhoon breaking the speed of sound.
Early reports indicate that Air France flight AF1558 from Paris to Newcastle could have been the reason for the typhoons being deployed.
UPDATE CityJet #AF1558 declared an emergency, now on final approach to Newcastle. Live: https://t.co/Ujl9thvCIj pic.twitter.com/lbE1Eve5mi
— AIRLIVE (@airlivenet) 18 February 2016