Heathrow control.

“Heavy LD251, good morning, descend to 300 feet over”

“Repeat, Lima Delta 251 good morning, descend to 300 feet over”

Static

“Heathrow this is LD251 descending, apology for communication delay over”

“Heavy LD251 no problem you had me worried for a second or two over”

“Heavy LD251 I see no descent from you, have you a mechanical problem? Over”

Static

“Graham, a minute please?”

“I’ve got a 747 in the circuit, something is not right he says he’s descending but his vector is unchanged!”

“Hand me the headset”

“LD251, this is Heathrow Control descend to 300 feet or leave the circuit this is Heathrow control over”

Static

“Graham according to my scope he just disconnected the Transponder!”

“Right!”

“Make a hole get out the way now!”

“Commander, we have a 747 heavy. Suspect terrorist attack, the Transponder has been disconnected! London this is for real!”

“Waddington here Captain Brown speaking,….”

“ We have a possible terrorist attack, a 747 has over flown Heathrow and is making for central London!”

“ Understood central control”

“Scramble now!”

“London, two Typhoon’s will be airborne in under 4 minutes we have the bogey on radar, divert all air traffic from the area, repeat get every thing down or it will be shot down!”

3 minutes 49 seconds later

“This is Red 2 on the way to possible bogey 900 knots air speed over,”

“Understood Red 2 confirm when you have visual contact over”

“Roger over”

“Waddington, is the aircraft freight or passenger? Over”

“Red 2, its passenger out of Pakistan, full flight with 200 passengers, over”

“Roger, understood, over”

“Prime minister we have a problem! A Boeing 747 is heading towards us. The transponder has been turned off, we suspect terrorist attack. Do we have permission to fire?”

“Hold on, hold on, are we sure it’s a terrorist attack?”

“Unsure Prime minister, the flight is not responding to communication. Its now 2 minutes to intercept. You must decide now I’m afraid David”

“Just wow back a minute, where is the flight from?”

“Pakistan sir and its fully loaded and there are British citizen’s on board”

“Oh no Jesus Christ no!”

“Sir we must have a go or no go to bring that aircraft down and now!”

“May God forgive me, shoot it down!”

“Red 2 shoot down the 747 its confirmed, bring down the target, over”

“Red 2 understood, its just the people sir? over”

“Red 2 bring down the 747 now! Lock missiles and clear, over”

“Control can we not escort the aircraft to a safe distance from London? Maybe just seeing us will stop them, over”

“Red 1 are you receiving me? Over”

“ Red 1 receiving you loud and clear sir, over”

“Red 1 bring the 747 down for God sake!”

“Red 1 here, understood engaging, over”

“Control, air to air missiles locked, do I have permission to fire?”

“Red 1 yes, over”

“Control, this is Red 1, Red 2 is blocking my shot sir! Your orders please? Over”

“Oh for the love of God! Red 1 take out Red 2 and the 747, now! Confirm over”

Static

“Control this is Red 2, Red 1 will not be able to respond as I sent him to see his maker!, over”

                                             The End

Lord Banks