Daily Wail Hype

[Mervyn and Trish]

Well here's one of the best bits of overblown journalism in the Wail for a while

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... pilot.html

That's the flight we were on on Monday and we witnessed the visitor.

I suspect they've already received complaints because they've already toned it down from the version in the printed paper under the headline "Terror as fighter plane buzzes UK holiday jet". It also claimed "passengers all started to panic" and "everyone stood up". No they didn't! Most, like us, noted the visitor with mild interest and continued buying their duty frees. Many didn't notice it at all. The fact that the cabins crew could see it and were not even mildly distracted kind of suggested all was okay.

Astonishingly the paper also says the people quoted thought it was a Russian plane. Clearly despite being frequent flyers they're not familiar with the normal route from Madeira to the UK!

The only thing that I would agree with is that we thought the pilot might at least have come on the PA to explain it all to us.

[Stephen]

Perhaps the fighter pilot heard the duty free vodka was getting low and wanted to get his order in

[Mervyn and Trish]

It had a thing sticking out the front which I thought was for in-flight refuelling. I assumed aviation fuel, but maybe vodka is nearer the mark.

[Stephen]

Either that or he just got a bit over excited

[david63]

Usual thing - why let the facts get in the way of a good story

[Quizzical Bob]

It was quite obviously a Rafale, the Russians have nothing like it. I can't see what all the fuss was about, I've had closer near-misses when climbing out from Heathrow, close enough to see the passengers' faces in the other aircraft. Now that was a bit disconcerting.

[Mervyn and Trish]

And tend not to have the French Air Force emblem, or patrol over France!

Mind you, if he had shot us down I'd have wanted compo.

[Frank Manning]

I dont believe anything in either The Mail Wail, Express, Sun or Mirror. I take the Telegraph with a bit of a pinch of salt likewise Guardian. I think I might be a bit concerned if I saw a fighter aircraft flying alongside.

[Stephen]

I dont believe anything in either The Mail Wail, Express, Sun or Mirror. I take the Telegraph with a bit of a pinch of salt likewise Guardian. I think I might be a bit concerned if I saw a fighter aircraft flying alongside.

Especially if you see him flick that red cap up

[Stephen]

And tend not to have the French Air Force emblem, or patrol over France!

Mind you, if he had shot us down I'd have wanted compo.

Me to Merv,

His tail number and 'How Is My Flying Today' contact number would have been straight in my diary.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I dont believe anything in either The Mail Wail, Express, Sun or Mirror. I take the Telegraph with a bit of a pinch of salt likewise Guardian. I think I might be a bit concerned if I saw a fighter aircraft flying alongside.

I wasn't bothered with him flying alongside (unless he sneezed of course). I knew he'd have to get behind us to shoot us down.

Then he got behind us.......

[towny44]

I dont believe anything in either The Mail Wail, Express, Sun or Mirror. I take the Telegraph with a bit of a pinch of salt likewise Guardian. I think I might be a bit concerned if I saw a fighter aircraft flying alongside.

I wasn't bothered with him flying alongside (unless he sneezed of course). I knew he'd have to get behind us to shoot us down.

Then he got behind us.......

Just be grateful he hadn't been listening to your Saturday morning radio show!!!!!!!

[qbman1]

He probably had - why do you think he was up there in the first place !!

[Mervyn and Trish]

Wanting an autograph?

[ITWA Travel Writer]

You should pay your bills Merv, then they would not send the "Repo Man" after you.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Can't afford to John. Spending too much supporting Shrek and Krankie!

[qbman1]

I'm sure they appreciate it - your contributions are on the agenda at the conference this week !!