The Eurofighters were an exercise in futility and un-necessary expense. No would-be hi-jacker will advertise his/her presence by squawking emergency. That is inviting an unwelcome response.
But the pilot might put the code in if hijacked, what happens between the hijacker and the pilot then will only reveal itself over the course of the flight. The Typhoons would have checked them out to see what the possible situation is likely to turn out as and make a decision on what to do.
As for targets, as moggy mentioned GCHQ and other potential targets in the area.
A more likely scenario, is a lightish a’c on a remote farm strip loaded with a ton of explosive which takes a selected route towards a likely target at 500 hundred feet or less. If anyone sees it coming, I’ll be more than amazed.
The helicopter, if I recall correctly was from Aintree. Helicopters can and do land in some pretty unusual places that planes can’t. Why use a farm strip when you can use a chopper in the middle of nowhere out of sight?
As for low flying, theres lots of NIMBY’s that are pretty much ready to call up the local airport or police station to report anything flying over their house at any altitude. Flying around at 500ft might catch the attention of alot of people, not just NIMBY’s, though.
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