Two RAF Typhoon fighter jets that caused sonic booms over the east of England when they raced to intercept a Jet2 plane were triggered after a misunderstanding between air traffic control and pilots, it has been claimed.
The airliner, travelling from Stansted to Turkey, was forced to turn back to the Essex airport after a female passenger allegedly tried to storm the cockpit and threatened to open the emergency exit at 30,000ft.
The shocking incident, which saw the 25-year-old woman from Maidenhead, Berkshire, pinned down by fellow travellers, was reported to air traffic control.
The RAF Typhoon (pictured here during an interception over the Baltic) launched from RAF Coningsby as a Quick Response Alert. The two fighters escorted the Jet 2 aircraft to Stansted. But it has now been claimed they were only scrambled due to a mix-up between air traffic control and the pilot
The plane's pilot later tried to reassure the control room, saying 'flight deck secure, cockpit door not compromised,' according to the BBC.
Yet this was reportedly taken to mean the woman had broken into the cockpit - so air traffic control alerted the RAF.
The Typhoons' Quick Reaction Alert caused sonic booms across the east coast as the pair of supersonic fighters raced south from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.
Police across Essex received numerous 999 calls reporting an explosion, but the noise was believed to be the two RAF jets breaking the sound barrier.
The incident caused delays of up to half an hour at Stansted Airport with several aircraft forced to hold until the all-clear was given.
Passengers on Saturday were forced to hold down a 25-year-old woman on board a Jet 2 passenger aircraft after she tried to 'storm the cockpit' forcing the captain to return to Stansted Airport and prompting the RAF to send a pair of Typhoon fighter aircraft to escort it back safely
A pilot source, who was in the area and could hear the exchange between the Jet2 pilot and air traffic control through his radio, told the BBC on condition of anonymity it was 'totally overdramatised' because of a 'miscommunication'.
Former RAF worker and aviation safety expert David Gleave added: 'You scramble and ask questions later.
'You don't have time to muck about.'
Mr Gleave said it can be seen as a 'useful test' for the two RAF jets.
A spokesman for NATS, who run air traffic control at Stansted, commented: 'I can confirm that the air traffic controllers followed standard procedure, and the MOD make the decision to scramble jets.'
Jet2 and the RAF were approached for comment.
Passengers on the Airbus 321 have told how they had to restrain the 'possessed' woman.
Former security guard Steven Brown, 58, told how he held down the 'super-strength' woman.
His comments came after Jet2 vowed to prosecute the woman for her actions.
Steven Brown (pictured), 58, who was on the flight from Stansted to Turkey on Saturday, has told how he held the 25-year-old woman down as she threatened to open the plane's emergency exit at 30,000ft
Mr Brown, from Romford, London, told the Sun: 'She bolted to the front of the plane and threw one stewardess from one side of the aisle to the other. Another was clinging onto her but lost her grip and the woman ran towards the door.
'She was punching, kicking and screaming at the stewards, they were trying to stop her but they had no chance.
'She was only petite but she had the strength of a fully-grown man. The only time I've seen anything like that was when someone had just dropped acid, she had super strength.'
Mr Brown (pictured with his partner Christina Hymas), from Romford, London, said: 'She was punching, kicking and screaming at the stewards, they were trying to stop her but they had no chance'
Mr Brown was helped by other passengers and crew who pinned the woman to the ground while the aircraft returned to Stansted at around 5pm.
She was arrested by police upon landing but was released on bail until June 30.
Jet 2 said in a statement: 'We are now liaising with the relevant authorities to support their investigation, and we will not hesitate to prosecute.
Essex Police confirmed they arrested the 25-year-old woman after the Jet 2 aircraft returned to Stansted around 5pm. The passenger aircraft was escorted back to the Essex airport by two RAF jets
One witness Amiy Varol claimed on Twitter that a female passenger tried to open a door on the passenger jet 45 minutes after it left Stansted Airport on its way to Turkey
She said that six people tried to hold down the woman during the terrifying incident
'For years we have been highlighting just how serious the consequences of disruptive passenger behaviour can be.
'These consequences include huge fines,
