HM Coastguard and Ramsgate RNLI responded to a call to assist the Royal Air Force last night (November 23) following an aircraft Mayday over Broadstairs.
A Coastguard search and rescue helicopter and Ramsgate RNLI lifeboats scoured the area but nothing was found.
A Ramsgate RNLI spokesperson said: “HM Coastguard assisted Royal Airforce following reports of an aircraft Mayday in the Broadstairs area last night. Alerted at around 8.30pm, a Coastguard search and rescue helicopter was sent to conduct searches of the area, alongside lifeboats from Ramsgate RNLI.
“Extensive searches were completed with nothing untoward found.
“We believe it was a false alarm.”
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency confirmed the details of the search.
The RAF run the Distress and Diversion (D&D) Cell who are responsible for offering assistance to aircraft in emergencies .
In this case a civilian airliner East of Southend reported to its radar controller, that it may have heard a MAYDAY transmitted, this information was passed to D&D.
No transmissions were heard by D&D.
Radar replays were checked and an intermittent contact was seen disappearing from radar near Herne Bay.
As a precautionary measure a helicopter and lifeboat were sent to search the area, nothing was found.
There have been no aircraft reported missing.
The contact seen on the radar replay may have been weather returns.
This is what I think, shoot me down if you think I’m wrong
I followed the whole incident on Marine radio SAR Flight Radar/Freedar military and Marine Traffic web radar websites, if an aircraft called the Mayday it had it’s transponder switched off or was in military stealth mode.
The chances of this being a prank is pretty low as most radios available for public use have no way to transmit on the aircraft bands for obvious reasons.
I believe this was either a training ops organised by top brass with those involved not told is was training.
Or … They were ordered to assist the military to search for a possible Russian drone entering UK airspace just as we have seen over the Netherlands in Eindhoven airport and Volkel nuclear military base on the last few days or so.
Maybe a bit wild? but there you go 🙂
Yes, a bit wild.
Why would the authorities call out a lifeboat and coastguard helicopter in response to reports of an unmanned drone?
Why would the authorities be coy about reporting drone activity? There was plenty in the news when a London airport was targeted by drones recently.
Military radar picks up a blip of a possible unmanned drone over the channel then goes dead? No major incident bust needs checking so they ask the coast guard to do a sweep?
Bust? that should read ‘but’ – 38DD 😆
Possibly the drone was checking how viable Manston’s runway is in preparation for an Airborne invasion. They already know a seaborne invasion is not feasible due to the lack of toilets for their troops to relieve themselves in after their voyage.
Equally a bit wild. But there you go. 😉
Does your theory conclude that Checkers is a secret agent and his aim is for the publics to be opened all year round, to enable said invasion ?
I hadn’t considered that. By discussing the possibility, are we both now destined for the Gulag?