God knows why the launch. Taking it a bit too far if we're going to scramble Q for every p*ssed up nutter on a transatlantic flight...
Back in the days of fighters with over and under engines Q would occasionally be launched for training purposes. This would usually occur when one of the duty crews had been brought up to readiness in the face of a perceived threat and then the threat level rescinded. 11 Group would authorise the launch and everyone, ground and air, would get something to ease the boredom. The original threat was used as the training target, but without close intercept.