A Latvian-registered cargo plane sparked the dramatic scrambling of two RAF Typhoon fighter jets when it took an unscheduled and uncommunicative detour over Kent towards London.

The two Typhoon jets flew to Kent from Lincolnshire at supersonic speeds to intercept the plane as 'it had caused concern to air traffic controllers'.

A massive sonic boom shattered the peace of a still, Autumn afternoon in Kent and could be heard across a fifty mile radius, stretching from Petts Wood to Dover and beyond. Residents hurriedly took to live newscasts and social media updates as the drama unfolded.

After warning the crew to respond to instruction or 'be shot down' the RAF escorted the plane and it's 3 man crew to Stansted Airport where it was grounded and an investigation was launched.

Latest news is that the crew had dialled into the wrong frequency when entering UK airspace from Italy via France but 'nobody wanted to take any chances'. The plane has this evening been allowed to continue it's journey to Birmingham.

After the incident the RAF tweeted: "Apologies if we startled you during the successful intercept this afternoon - we only go supersonic over land if we absolutely have to