Ayrshire Post

Fighter planes bring jet to Prestwick

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Prestwick Airport was at the centre of a national security scare after an aeroplane lost contact.

Typhoons dramatical­ly escorted a Mexican aircraft to the Ayrshire runway during Friday rush hour.

Armed police greeted the seven strong crew after the emergency landing at about 4pm.

The Volaris XA- VLX flight was en route from France to Mexico via Iceland.

The pilot lost communicat­ions with air traffic control sparking the major operation, which saw four fighter jets swooping on the plane.

Police closed roads around the airport and a sonic boom was heard across Scotland as the Typhoons went on the hunt.

An RAF spokesman said: “Quick reaction alert Typhoon aircraft were launched today from RAF Coningsby and RAF Lossiemout­h to identify an unresponsi­ve civilian aircraft.

“The Typhoon aircraft were authorised to transit at supersonic speed for operationa­l reasons. Any inconvenie­nce caused to local residents is regretted.

“Communicat­ions were re- establishe­d and the aircraft has been safely escorted by the Lossiemout­h aircraft to Prestwick Airport.”

The purpose of the flight was to deliver the brand new factory plane to Mexico.

Volaris is a low- cost airline based in Santa Fe.

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 ??  ?? Landing The Mexican plane arrives at Prestwick Airport, after being accompanie­d by a Typhoon
Landing The Mexican plane arrives at Prestwick Airport, after being accompanie­d by a Typhoon

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