strange skies??

Just wondering if anyone has any info.

I was driving home about 20 minutes ago and just above me came a large commerical airline being escorted by two fighter jets.

Usually at this time of night when I look up at the skies, there are several planes in view going towards Heathrow but its spookerly quiet??

Exercise for the Olympics or is something happening. Happened last year when the President arrived at Stanstead. At the moment the skies are like when we had the ash cloud.

it's not the dream liner is it?

I've looked at http://www.radarvirtuel.com , and see that there's the usual clusters around Heathrow, Gatwick & Luton. There's also lots of traffic in the usual lanes. However there's nothing shown within about 40 miles of Stanstead

Whether this is co-incidence or plan, I don't know!

Peter

Exercise for the Olympics or is something happening. H

There *is* anOlympic Security Test currently going on but my reading of it is that it is a desk based exercise rather than a 'real life' one.

But have just looked out of the window here at Tonty Topwers and have just seen a plane on one of the usual tracks so all is normal !

None of the London airport websites are showing any unusual delays.

This is really strange. It is a beautiful clear evening here on the edge of North East London and we are just a few miles from
the ???? beacon (sorry can't recall its proper name) at Lambourne End, and planes turn here for the 'east approach' into Heathrow. Usually they fly over in convoy one after the other at this time of night but at present only three have gone over in 35minutes.

You're probably right Peter, its just a coincidence but it was weird seeing that low aircraft with small jets next to it flying over so low and now the continued empty skies.

That was a Saudi Airlines aircraft, the airline received a threat about the flight, so RAF followed it to landing at LHR to make sure it didn't stray.
Nothing was found, it happens all the time, just not always escorted by the RAF.
No emergency was declared or anything so obviously not a very credible threat?

That was a Saudi Airlines aircraft, the airline received a threat about the flight, so RAF followed it to landing at LHR to make sure it didn't stray.
Nothing was found, it happens all the time, just not always escorted by the RAF.
No emergency was declared or anything so obviously not a very credible threat?

Seriously? that actually happened this evening.

That was a Saudi Airlines aircraft, the airline received a threat about the flight, so RAF followed it to landing at LHR to make sure it didn't stray.
Nothing was found, it happens all the time, just not always escorted by the RAF.
No emergency was declared or anything so obviously not a very credible threat?

Seriously? that actually happened this evening.

I get the impression it happens several times a day, just minus the RAF most the time.

All transport systems get threats all the time, 99% of the time nothing is visably done. Today I expect the RAF had some time, and thought they would refresh their training.

My friend on Facebook reported this too today

My friend on Facebook reported this too today

There is an active 'blog' going on re the incident on 'Twitter'.

Loads of folk saw or heard the plane & jets, by no clear indication what was happening, just speculation. Probably we will never know either.

I spotted 3 planes comprising 2 smaller planes and one larger plane, which had a re fuelling pipe trailing, and one of the smaller craft was either lining up or had just detached from the fuel pipe. This was in Hertfordshire near Stansted about 6pm. I've always admired the pilots that do this manoeuvre must be tricky given the speed and the dangerous fluid involved!

And the answer is

Flypast honours British Libya troops

Who knew it was on so they could try and watch it?

And the answer is

Flypast honours British Libya troops

Who knew it was on so they could try and watch it

I wonder what one hev60 saw? Most likely the flypast rather than the Saudi jet

Is there a verified news story re the Saudi Jet?

I can't find any stories relating to a jet being escorted to LHR yesterday.

Is there a verified news story re the Saudi Jet?

I can't find any stories relating to a jet being escorted to LHR yesterday.

Well I was told by someone at LHR who responded to it. The press don't report these stories often, as I said, happens often. Sorry I can't show you any proof tonty

And the answer is

Flypast honours British Libya troops

Who knew it was on so they could try and watch it

I wonder what one hev60 saw? Most likely the flypast rather than the Saudi jet

Hi again,

Just to say many thanks for all the imput uesterday y) It WAS the end of that fly-past I saw but that plane and the two jets really did cruise over us very low. My son was walking home and he said he actually cowed away towards a fence, fearing the noise was going to result into something nasty.

I found that acticle explaining about the flypast honouring the British Libian Troops, late last night and the photograph confirmed that's what I saw. All ends well