RAF fighter jet scrambled over Thomas Cook holiday plane

PA

An RAF fighter jet employed to defend the Olympics against terror attacks was scrambled for the first time yesterday - because of a Thomas Cook passenger plane.

The Typhoon took off from RAF Northolt after air traffic controllers lost contact with the commercial aircraft, which was carrying hundreds of tourists from Tunisia back to Glasgow.

The plane lost communications with aviation authorities over the French coastline at around 11.30am, according to the Daily Mail.

A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman told AFP: "We can confirm that 1 Typhoon launched shortly before 11:30 am today.

"This was in response to a commercial aircraft that was out of communication with air traffic control services. Communications were quickly restored; no further action was required."

The Boeing 757, Flight number TCX3125, which was was carrying 235 passengers and eight crew, landed at Glasgow International Airport at 1.22pm.

A Thomas Cook spokesman told the Daily Mail: "We can confirm that Flight TCX3125 was out of communication for a very short time whilst in French airspace.

"This was quickly restored and contact made with UK Air Traffic Control before entering UK airspace.

"The flight continued as planned with the aircraft landing as scheduled in Glasgow earlier this afternoon."

Four fighter jets are on standby at RAF Northolt to defend the Olympics against any rogue aircraft intent on causing chaos.

The RAFs Quick Reaction Alert jets are usually based in Lincolnshire and Fife, from where they protect UK airspace.

But a group of the 1,370mph jets have been moved to London to protect the capital during the Olympics.

The Typhoons are just one part of the defence structure surrounding the Games.

Nearly 20,000 troops will be on-hand to provide security at the Olympic Park, while Britain's biggest warship, HMS Ocean, is berthed in the River Thames, and snipers will be deployed in Royal Navy helicopters.

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