Helicopter passenger tells of Typhoon jet drama over Bath
A racehorse owner has told how the helicopter he was flying in was targetted by two RAF fighter jets in a scare over Bath.
The Typhoon aircraft flew at supersonic speeds after being told the former military helicopter had issued the sort of distress signal associated with hijackings.
The helicopter – owned by a plant hire firm in Dorset – was taking 47-year-old Anthony Knott home from a race meeting at Aintree when it sparked the drama on Thursday evening.
The two jets created sonic booms as they flew from their base in Lincolnshire and then came low over Bath, amazing local people who watched in astonishment.
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The 1973 Gazelle is owned by Buckland Newton Hire and has flown more than 5,000 hours.
It is not clear who was piloting the chopper, but the firm’s Martin Perrett is an experienced pilot.
He declined to comment to The Bath Chronicle today other than to suggest that there had not been a fault with his helicopter.
Mr Knott told the BBC: “The pilot said we were lucky to be alive.
“It was like being in Top Gun or something.
“All of a sudden this plane came from underneath us. The turbulence sucked us round 30 degrees and the pilot said we were lucky to be alive.”
The Ministry of Defence and police say the pilot transmitted the wrong signal by mistake.
Mr Knott, from Sturminster Newton, said the pilot had said that if the helicopter had not been an ex-military one, they would have been dead.
It was the first time Mr Knott had been in the helicopter, and had been with his son and daughter.
He said the plane passed by the helicopter two more times communicating with the helicopter pilot before flying away.
He told the BBC he did not know anything about the emergency signal and had not been able to hear the communication between the two pilots.
He said: “Our pilot was just in shock. He was quite angry and when we landed he went off to find out why it had happened.”
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Comments
by Stagnate
Thursday, April 19 2012, 7:30PM
“Forget the conspiracy theory, there isn't one.
Whilst you're at it, don't forget Rule Number One - If in the wrong always try to blame the other person/vehicle/aircraft or organisation involved.
That is exactly what the pilot and the company that owns this antique are trying to do, discredit the authorities and absolve themselves of all blame.
The AAIB report should make for interesting reading.”
by SpinyHedgehog
Thursday, April 19 2012, 7:26PM
“@turkey222
"why don't we all forget what happened in bath for a minute and focus are thoughts on what happened in the costa del sol on easter sunday 8/4/12 a few days before the incident in bath and also the incident in viginia on the 6/4/12 regarding a fighter jet F-18 crashing into some peoples apartments - do we have theries on what happened in theses cases?"
I'm sure you do, Turkey, I'm sure you do... [SIGH]”
by Badladdy
Thursday, April 19 2012, 7:12PM
“@ John_Name
Are these guys all "conspiacy theorists?"
http://tinyurl.com/bwchz9n
How about NASA?
http://tinyurl.com/d2ctxke”
by John_Name
Thursday, April 19 2012, 6:28PM
“Well said, Sandstorm. These conspiracy theorists are just tiresome.”
by turkey222
Thursday, April 19 2012, 5:00PM
“why don't we all forget what happened in bath for a minute and focus are thoughts on what happened in the costa del sol on easter sunday 8/4/12 a few days before the incident in bath and also the incident in viginia on the 6/4/12 regarding a fighter jet F-18 crashing into some peoples apartments - do we have theries on what happened in theses cases?”
by Sandstorm10
Thursday, April 19 2012, 4:30PM
“There are clear proceedures that all pilots are supposed to carry out to avoid sending an accidental 7500:Unlawful Interference (Aircraft hijacking) transponder code. I would put money on any inquiry finding that this incident was due to those proceedures not being carried out.
I am hugely impressed at the speed of the response to this emergency call. Those who see this as an MOD cover up really should be applying for work with Mulder and Scully!”
by bristolmad1
Thursday, April 19 2012, 1:49PM
“i watched it circling the chopper but dint see ware the other one went it shot up to 30.000 feet fast free air show”
by Badladdy
Tuesday, April 17 2012, 6:11PM
“Come on Spiny, even you must be having doubts.
-Same shaped UFO pursued by fighter jets in Spain on Easter Sunday
- Photographic evidence of UFO over Bath, with jets in shot
-Helicopter pilot confirms no fault with helicopter & no distress signal sent
Where is your evidence that the official story by the MOD is true? It's more leaky than Rovers defence”
by SpinyHedgehog
Tuesday, April 17 2012, 5:53PM
“@Badladdy
"Blatant cover up by the Ministry of Defence"
Evidence?”
by Badladdy
Tuesday, April 17 2012, 5:42PM
“Blatant cover up by the Ministry of Defence”