WOMAN was marched off a Jet2 plane at Stansted Airport after sparking a hijack alert by allegedly “rushing the cockpit” and threatening to kill passengers.
Two RAF Typhoon fighters were scrambled to intercept the Airbus 321 – creating a sonic boom that was heard 40 miles away as they raced into action and escorted the plane back to the ground.
The military aircraft created a “sonic boom”, as they flew over Essex on Saturday. Several residents in Harlow, Epping, Chelmsford, and Stansted called 999 to report a “loud explosion” when they heard it on Saturday evening, police said.
A 25-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of assault an endangering an aircraft.
The cabin crew grabbed her to stop her and then she starts scratching them and hitting them.
“She then got pinned to the floor by cabin crew and passengers and a passenger even sat on her.”
The 24-year-old community care officer said the woman made threats to other passengers and staff.
A Jet2 spokesperson said: “We are aware of an incident regarding an extremely disruptive passenger on a flight from Stansted to Dalaman earlier this evening.
“The aircraft has returned safely and we are liaising with the relevant authorities to support their investigation. We are working hard to ensure the remaining customers reach their destination as soon possible.”
Many took to Twitter to say they felt the sonic boom as their windows and tellys started shaking.
People online reported hearing an explosion, and police confirmed the noise was a sonic boom.
One man described the noise as a “huge bang” which “nearly blew my window out”.
A spokesman from Stansted Airport confirmed the noise was a sonic boom – created when the fighter jets accelerated through the sound barrier.
All airport operations are running as normal.
A Royal Air Force spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that RAF quick reaction alert Typhoon aircraft from RAF Coningsby scrambled to escort a commercial flight into Standard shortly after take-off due to reports of a disruptive passenger.”
Bishop’s Stortford police tweeted: “Large number of 999 calls coming in about a loud explosion. We have liaised with @EssexPoliceUK who are confirming that this is a sonic boom from a passing aircraft.”
An Essex Police spokeswoman said: “We were made aware of a disruptive passenger on an inbound flight to Stansted this evening, Saturday, June 22.
Good article scary situation decicive action taken and desparately needed. Custodila sentence and damages bankruptcy well deserved.