So this happened – female passenger on cheapie flight to Turkey from Stanstead UK assaulted some people on a plane. RAF fighters scrambled to bring jet back to Stanstead.
Why do this? Drill the professionals ? Or scare the bejeebus out of the unruly passenger (and everybody else)?
On two occasions over 15 years I’ve seen jets with a fighter escort on their approach over London.
Knew a crew who were both reading the newspaper when a French interceptor appeared on the port side. The cabin crew had to alert the flight crew of the presence of the interceptor…
As to your question, not sure, but I would assume the defence forces were not told whether there was/wasn’t potential for breaching the cockpit, and reacted instinctively. Hen Party from Hell, or determined terrorist might be best determined after the fact and until then treated as worst case. The sooner the travelling public, especially from the UK, learns that having pints of Stella at 0600 whilst waiting for the bucket and spade express is not a good plan, the better.
Yeah, alcohol and flying…
https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/7960835/passenger-ordered-pay-3000-fine-disrupting-flight/
Ahhh, yes - Brits, alcohol and flying. Couldn’t find the one where a flight to Las Vegas was diverted over a bunch of drunken British stag party goers though.