SKY DRAMA
RAF jets spotted escorting plane over London sparks panic – but there’s a simple explanation
THERE was panic in London this morning after an RAF Voyager escorted by two fighter jets flew over the capital.
Fortunately, there's a simple and very harmless explanation.
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The huge plane was snapped flying over Trafalgar Square with a smaller jet on either side.
Images have been shared to Twitter, with one witness writing: "An airliner aeroplane has just flown LOW over Trafalgar Square flanked by fighter jets!"
It was initially believed by some that the big plane was a British Airways passenger jet. However, it's a Voyager in Union Jack livery.
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One social media user wrote: "Anyone know what’s the deal with this British Airways plane and its two friends?
"Military escort or just fancy flyover?"
But the RAF has now revealed it was a pre-planned flypast as one special visitor arrives in the capital.
Officials tweeted: "You may see a RAF Voyager and two RAF Typhoons flying over central London this morning.
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"This is a pre-planned flypast to welcome the Prime Minister of Japan to the UK."
The planes set off from Brize Norton shortly before 10.45am to reach London by 11.10am.
They dipped lower over Horse Guards Parade.
Japanese PM Fumio Kishida is in the UK to sign a new defence agreement.
The pact will deepen military ties in the Indo-Pacific.
After the flypast, he was invited in Japanese by the captain of the Nijmegen Company, Grenadier Guards, to inspect a guard of honour.
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Boris Johnson is expected to announce a "landmark defence partnership" known as the Reciprocal Access Agreement after the talks.
This partnership means Japanese and British armed forces will be deployed together for the purpose of disaster relief training, general training and joint exercises.
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