Military jets escort planes to Stansted Airport as part of safety and security exercise

Military jets have been escorting civilian planes through Uttlesford’s air space as part of a three day safety and security exercise involving Essex Police, Stansted Airport and other agencies.

A police spokesman said there was “no threat to the public and no need to be concerned”.

“The exercise has been a year in the planning and is just part of ongoing national emergency planning procedure testing,” the spokesman added.

It is being carried out in accordance with the Civil Contingencies Act and forms and is described as an “integral part” of a national training programme, involving jets from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

“Members of the public are assured that, during the exercise, they will not experience any reduction in the quality of service provided,” the spokesman added.

Robert Smith, whose Haverhill home is situated under a Stansted flight path, said there was an “extraordinary noise” as one of the jets, from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, escorted a civilian plane on its way towards the airport.

A spokesman for Stansted Airport said: “We can confirm that Essex Police Force and other Forces in the region, in conjunction with other responders are taking part in a multi-agency, safety and security exercise from June 11 to 13 to test major incident contingency plans.

“There is a legal responsibility under the Civil Contingencies Act to regularly test these plans through the use of an exercise.”

The exercise is taking place today, tomorrow and Friday.