UK sends Typhoon jets to intercept London-bound Air India flight after bomb threat

London/Mumbai: The Royal Air Force on Thursday sent Typhoon fighter jets to intercept an Air India flight that had received a bomb threat and the plane was later landed safely in London.

An Air India flight from Mumbai to London was hit by a bomb threat, an airline official said.

“We can confirm that an RAF Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon fighter aircraft from RAF Coningsby was sent to investigate a civilian aircraft this afternoon,” a Royal Air Force spokesperson said.

After the aircraft was intercepted without any obstruction, the spokesperson said, the aircraft was allowed to proceed to its original destination on instructions from civil air traffic control.

Further, the spokesperson said, the incident is now being handled under the control of civil authorities.

The plane landed safely at London Heathrow Airport, an airline official said.

A loud sound was heard over England’s East Anglia region by jets that were allowed to fly at supersonic speeds for operational reasons.

Norfolk Police said in a statement, “Police can confirm that the loud sound heard by residents in the county this afternoon (October 17) was the sound produced by an RAF aircraft and was not an explosion.”