An aircraft which lost radio contact has been escorted to Stansted airport by RAF fighter jets.

Essex Police said the aircraft landed at Stansted Airport shortly before 12.50 GMT.

A dash 8 aircraft was en route to London Southend Airport when its radio failed.

The flight instead flew over Heathrow, City and Stansted.

London Southend Airport posted on Facebook: "RAF Typhoons were scrambled to make contact and have now escorted the N362PH to London Stansted."

Airspace over London was also closed and departures from Gatwick airport were reportedly suspended for 15 minutes earlier.

BBC journalist Phil Mercer tweeted he had been sitting on a plane at the airport after passengers were told "all airspace over London is closed as an aircraft has stopped communicating with air traffic control".

It comes after people in Oxfordshire and beyond heard a "loud bang" at around 12.15pm.

RAF Typhoons scrambled from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire to intercept the plane flew at supersonic speeds down to London.

It created a sonic boom which happens when shock waves are created when an object travels through the air faster than the speed of sound.

Leicestershire Police said they had received "numerous calls in relation to a large explosion sound heard from various parts of the city and county" but there was "no concern".

Thames Valley Police confirmed it had "received reports of a loud bang".

But a spokesman for the force said there was no indication of it being an explosion.

 

 

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This story was written by Miranda Norris, she joined the team in 2021 and covers news across Oxfordshire as well as news from Witney.

Get in touch with her by emailing: Miranda.Norris@newsquest.co.uk. Or find her on Twitter: @Mirandajnorris

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