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Jet scrambles after Games security alert

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Jet scrambles after Games security alert

3News NZ

An RAF jet flies over houses in London (Reuters)

An RAF jet flies over houses in London (Reuters)

An RAF fighter jet tasked with defending the Olympics against terror attacks was scrambled on Friday after an aircraft lost contact with aviation authorities, the Ministry of Defence said.

The Typhoon was sent to intercept the aircraft after air traffic controllers lost contact.

But the jet was able to return to its base at RAF Northolt, west London, shortly after taking off when communication was re-established with the pilot.

An MoD spokesman said it was at least the third time Typhoons have been scrambled since the start of the Olympics on July 27.

He was unable to confirm the type of aircraft involved in this latest incident but said it was flying outside London's restricted flying zone.

Four Typhoon jets are on standby to intercept aircraft suspected of posing a terror threat throughout London 2012.

NZN

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4/08/2012 9:04:18 a.m.

JC wrote:

How could New Zealand host the Olympics - or the Commonwealth Games for that matter? We don't have an airforce, and have scarcely any army.

Total
United States of America462929104
People's Republic of China38272388
Great Britain29171965
Russian Federation24263282
South Korea138728
New Zealand62513
All the medals