Fighter Escort near Heathrow

[777fly]

A civil airliner was seen flying near Heathrow, escorted by two Typhoon fighters, at 1000Z today. Tracking south at around 3000ft, about 12 miles from EGLL. Any info out there?

[woodpecker]

Originally Posted by 777fly

A civil airliner was seen flying near Heathrow, escorted by two Typhoon fighters, at 1000Z today. Tracking south at around 3000ft, about 12 miles from EGLL. Any info out there?

One of the RAF's Airbus KC2 Voyager Tankers (A330), not quite a civil airliner!

[Max Angle]

Practice for the jubilee fly past.

[jethro15]

UPDATE: Passenger plane escorted by fighter jets over London "pre-planned to welcome Prime Minister of Japan" - Euro Weekly News

[SpringHeeledJack]

It didn't seem to be very well publicised, Perhaps it would have been wise to have put the word out so as to alleviate the concerns of the many people who 'witnessed' an airliner being escorted by fighters and naturally thought that something was seriously wrong, rather than the reality of a flypast for a visiting head of state. Also, for those of us afflicted with the curse of the spotter it would've been nice for a heads up ;-)

[dixi188]

Originally Posted by SpringHeeledJack

It didn't seem to be very well publicised, Perhaps it would have been wise to have put the word out so as to alleviate the concerns of the many people who 'witnessed' an airliner being escorted by fighters and naturally thought that something was seriously wrong, rather than the reality of a flypast for a visiting head of state. Also, for those of us afflicted with the curse of the spotter it would've been nice for a heads up ;-)

I don't think many people would have witnessed it.
About 3 years ago I was in Kensington gardens and the BBMF Lancaster did three orbits at around 1500ft and no one except me looked up.
Jo public aren't interested in aeroplanes.

[ATNotts]

Originally Posted by dixi188

I don't think many people would have witnessed it.
About 3 years ago I was in Kensington gardens and the BBMF Lancaster did three orbits at around 1500ft and no one except me looked up.
Jo public aren't interested in aeroplanes.

When walking around London I am always struck how most people are in their own little bubble, oblivious to what's going on around them - and that was the case long before mobile phones were invented. I once thought, when at Euston Station commuters would step over someone collapsed in the concourse rather than assist them

Strange place London, and strange people!

[TheFrenchConnection]

It was our very special welcome for the Japanese PM on an official visit arriving 5/5

Sorry for late reply ; I heard from some foreign office ... that it was our very special welcome for the Japanese PM on an official visit & arriving that day ;
"PM meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida: 5 May 2022. " TFC