247 NEWS Posted January 18, 2020 Share Posted January 18, 2020 Flights to Heathrow diverted after RAF demands use of airspace Flights were held or diverted after the RAF requested the use of Heathrow’s airspace (Picture: Getty) Dozens of flights to Heathrow Airport were diverted or delayed today after the RAF requested use of its airspace. At least five British Airways planes and one Virgin Atlantic flight were understood to have been diverted to other airports. The incident at Britain’s busiest airport in west London was ‘unplanned’ a spokesperson for Heathrow said. Some planes reportedly became ‘stacked’ in the skies around Greater London waiting for clearance to land. Passengers claimed they were told by pilots that their flights were being held due to a ‘security incident’ but the airport has denied this. Five British Airways planes and one Virgin Atlantic flight was understood to have been diverted to other airports (Picture: AFP) A spokesperson for Heathrow said: ‘Arrivals were paused briefly this morning due to an RAF request for an operational flight within part of Heathrow’s airspace. ‘Arrivals are now operating as normal.’ A Ministry of Defence spokesman confirmed it had coordinated a flight through the airspace. He added: ‘The RAF can confirm that a flight was completed this morning by one of our assets from RAF Northolt, this flight was coordinated with Heathrow ATC but had to extend by a few minutes to complete its sortie. ‘The minor delays caused to civilian air traffic are regretted.’ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazle Posted January 18, 2020 Share Posted January 18, 2020 42 minutes ago, 247 NEWS said: The minor delays caused to civilian air traffic are regretted ....... ... We had wanted major ones. ☺️ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toy Boy Posted January 18, 2020 Share Posted January 18, 2020 1 hour ago, 247 NEWS said: . He added: ‘The RAF can confirm that a flight was completed this morning by one of our assets from RAF Northolt, this flight was coordinated with Heathrow ATC but had to extend by a few minutes to complete its sortie. Hmmm, a VVIP by the sound of it, or else they're back to renditioning people again. Maybe the Labour Party's finally decided to get rid of Jeremy Corbyn and fly him off to Gitmo! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegrogmonster Posted January 18, 2020 Share Posted January 18, 2020 Harry heading to Canada? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fygjam Posted January 18, 2020 Share Posted January 18, 2020 If they didn't shoot anyone down what's there to complain about? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coxyhog Posted January 18, 2020 Share Posted January 18, 2020 All VIP stuff at Northolt.We have a couple of Heathrow air traffic controllers live opposite so I'll ask them when I see them next(if I remember lol). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galenkia Posted January 18, 2020 Share Posted January 18, 2020 10 hours ago, thegrogmonster said: Harry heading to Canada? Hell of a carbon footprint he left if it was. 😀 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob lt Posted January 18, 2020 Share Posted January 18, 2020 (edited) 5 + 1 flights diverted to other airports, expensive to bus all the passengers back to Heathrow, even worse if some then miss connecting flights. Edited January 18, 2020 by bob lt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thai Spice Posted January 19, 2020 Share Posted January 19, 2020 A few possible clues on here, but the posters understandingly stay rather discreet. https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/628925-lhr-flights-diverted-request-raf.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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