FIGHTER jets were scrambled on Monday night - causing a sonic boom - to escort a civilian passenger plane after air traffic controllers were unable to contact the pilots.

Video courtesy of Griffo Pulse 1 Drivetime.

The AFR1558 flight from Paris, Charles De Gaulle was escorted into Newcastle Airport by RAF aircraft having lost communication with Air Traffic Control.

The aircraft landed safely at 10.23pm, Newcastle Airport said.

The military aircraft were launched from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire after the aircraft became "unresponsive", the Ministry of Defence said.

Websites that show flight paths of commercial aeroplanes reveal that the aircraft turned right over Harrogate, North Yorkshire,and began heading out over the North Sea.

People reported hearing what sounded like two loud explosions. However, the noises were later confirmed to have been sonic booms caused by the jets.

Middlesbrough player Adam Clayton heard the noise.

"People saying it was a sonic boom . He must of put his foot down over my house . No back doors left," he wrote on Twitter.

An RAF spokesman said: "Quick reaction alert Typhoon aircraft were launched today from RAF Coningsby to identify an unresponsive civilian aircraft. Communications were re-established and the aircraft has been safely landed."

A spokewoman for North Yorkshire Police said: "Police are aware of the reports of activity, which happened around half an hour ago, and are fully investigating, however it is believed it was due to a sonic boom by two RAF jets," a spokeswoman said earlier in the evening.

"Police believe there is no danger posed to the public."

A Newcastle Airport spokesperson confirmed around midnight: "We can confirm flight AFR1558 from Paris, Charles De Gaulle was escorted into Newcastle Airport by RAF aircraft having lost communication with Air Traffic Control. The aircraft landed safely at 22:23."

Last month, two bangs heard around Northampton and Brackley were caused by Typhoon jets which had been scrambled from an RAF base in Lincolnshire to identify an unresponsive aircraft.

The Ministry of Defence has been contacted for comment about Monday's incident.

A number of people posting on Twitter about the noise reported hearing two bangs.

One woman wrote: "house shook & whole street was out, car & house alarms gone off. Apparently was a sonic boom."

Another said: "Those vibrations shook my house and scared me to death. #QRATYPHOON had me out of my bed."