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| RAF jets intercept Lithuanian cargo plane over Kent | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two RAF jets have intercepted a Lithuanian cargo plane over Kent and accompanied it to Stansted Airport. | |
| The Russian-made aircraft lost contact with air traffic controllers, a spokesman for the Essex airport said. | |
| Kent Police received several calls reporting a loud bang. The force said it was related to RAF activity. | Kent Police received several calls reporting a loud bang. The force said it was related to RAF activity. |
| An airport spokesman said police officers surrounded the aircraft after it landed at 17:15 GMT. | |
| A blast was heard coming from the Dartford area at about 16:40 and was also felt across the county, according to posts on Twitter. | |
| The airport spokesman said surrounding the plane was standard procedure when communication had been lost with an aircraft. | |
| He said officers were later stood down and the plane was continuing its journey. | |
| Tweetdeck founder Iain Dodsworth tweeted audio of the blast, which he described as an "explosion". | |
| 'Supersonic speed' | |
| An RAF spokesman said: "Typhoon aircraft were launched this afternoon from RAF Coningsby to intercept a civilian aircraft south of London which was causing concern to air traffic control authorities. | |
| "The aircraft was safely escorted to London Stansted. | |
| "To fulfil their quick reaction role the Typhoons were cleared to travel at supersonic speed, any noise disturbance as a result of this is regretted. Essex Police now have the lead." | |
| The RAF confirmed the aircraft was a Russian-made Antonov An-26. | |
| In a tweet it apologised if crews had "startled people" but added that jets only went supersonic over land when absolutely necessary. | |
| In a statement, Essex Police said military jets were deployed on a precautionary basis when a Lithuania-registered cargo plane was diverted to Stansted. | |
| It said: "This was due to a loss of communication with the aircraft. The aircraft landed safely." | |
| Police said all three people on board had been spoken to and it was established everything was in order. | |
| The reason for the short loss of communication was due to a change in airspace jurisdiction, police added. | |
| Officers said they were not investigating the incident and the aircraft would be able to continue its journey to Birmingham when ready. |