RAF tornado jets could shoot down hijacked planes in Irish airspace

British Tornado fighter jets will shoot down aircraft in Irish airspace if they are hijacked by terrorists for a 9/11-style attack.

The Department of Defence has refused to comment on claims by a number of Irish Examiner sources that an agreement was reached some years ago between the Irish and British governments about protecting this country’s airspace from terrorist threats.

Five well-placed sources in Ireland and one in Britain have pointed to the agreement being in place, with a number saying the Defence Forces was not involved in negotiating it, despite the RAF asking for its inclusion.