Why do fighter jets escort threatened planes?

[Mark P]

There's probably some logic, but not sure what it is.

[Gav]

so theres no sudden turn in direction towards large populas areas ,if a Hijacker decides to try crash it inno the middle off london the jets blow it up

[Mark P]

I thought it was something like that, but if the plane is over a populated area anyway and it blows up, there's nowt the fighter jet can do and devastation will still ensue on the ground.

[aws]

If it heads towards Blair or the Queen the fighters open up.Simple.

[SharQ]

aws is right. If the planes head towards untoward areas, they are actually authorised to shoot down the passenger jets with their little sidewinder missiles.

H

[Hermes]

When the 9/11 planes crashed George Bush rang Superman and asked what he was doing at the time. He replied "Pushing myself around in this f****** wheelchair".

[SharQ]

That's just dark, Hermes.