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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Ben Turner-LE

Why this RAF fighter jet flew into Liverpool Airport but didn't land

One of the RAF's leading fighter jets flew into Liverpool John Lennon Airport today but flew off just as it was about to touch down.

The striking sight of the Eurofighter Typhoon T3 was captured by an ECHO reader who spotted the RAF aircraft appear to approach for landing but then pulling away at the last minute and flying off.

The dramatic scenes unfolded around 11.20am at the Speke-based airport.

The witness said: "It came within a foot of the runway and pulled back up."

But Liverpool John Lennon Airport officials today said there was no cause for concern and the aircraft from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire - home of the RAF’s Eurofighter Typhoons - was doing a scheduled training drill.

A spokesman for Liverpool John Lennon Airport told the ECHO: "Feedback from air traffic control is that it was a Eurofighter T3, using the airport for training, with a practice approach and then departure, but without landing and it was from RAF Coningsby."

(@LGM999s)

RAF Coningsby is a Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Station which protects UK airspace.

It is home to two frontline, combat-ready squadrons and is the training station for Typhoon pilots.

Almost 3,000 Service Personnel, Civil Servants, and contractors work at RAF Coningsby.

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