Crime & Safety
RAF response as military Airbus plane flies low over Oxford
Residents of East Oxford were shocked today (Tuesday, June 9) as an Airbus A400M Atlas plane was seen and heard swooping low over the city.
The four-engine military transport aircraft, designed by Airbus, is used as a transport aircraft, for medical evacuation, air-to-air refuelling and aerial delivery of paratroopers, vehicles and humanitarian aid.
READ MORE: RAF response as transport aircraft spotted low over Oxford
Able to carry 32 tonnes of cargo, its maiden flight took place in 2009 and since then 130 have been produced.
The one spotted in Oxfordshire took off from RAF Brize Norton at 10.35am and landed at 1.36pm, with the aircraft spotted in East Oxford at around 12.15pm.
Over the course of its three hour flight, it did several circuits around Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties, going as far west as Ablington and as far south as Faringdon.
Clarifying the presence of the military vehicle so close to the ground a spokesperson for the RAF said it was on “routine training” in the area.
READ MORE: RAF update after transport aircraft spotted low over Oxford
RAF Brize Norton is the largest Royal Air Force station in the UK and, as such, it is not unknown for military aircraft to be spotted, and there have been several instances this year.
In early March, residents of Oxford were startled by fighter planes speeding over the city.
The RAF later confirmed that the flyover was for Operation Agile Warrior, an exercise designed to test the British air force’s ability to protect the nation amid a “volatile” global environment.
The Kings Arms in Sandford-on-Thames, part of the Chef & Brewer collection operated by Greene King, reopened to the public last weekend.
Situated near Sandford Lock, the historic pub has been given a top-to-bottom refresh designed to modernise the space while preserving its character.
Internally, the layout has been reconfigured to improve flow, with upgrades to the bar area, repositioned service points and new furniture and décor to create a more comfortable and inviting setting.
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Accessibility has also been improved, with new flooring and a refreshed layout making the venue more welcoming for all visitors, including those with dogs.
Outside, the pub’s large riverside beer garden remains a key attraction. Enhancements include a renovated pergola, extended seating areas and improvements around the prominent horse chestnut tree, creating an appealing space for outdoor dining throughout the year.
Customers can also enjoy a new seasonal menu featuring traditional pub favourites, Sunday roasts and more contemporary dishes.
To mark the reopening, local resident Ann Bishop was invited to cut the ribbon. The pub has also made a donation to Oxenford Cricket Club as part of its community support efforts.
General manager Lee Hyland said the investment had “truly transformed” the pub while maintaining its long-standing appeal to both locals and visitors.
The 66-year-old was born in the city and grew up in Blackbird Leys before going on to star in projects such as Jeeves and Wooster, Blackadder and The Night Manager.
He is perhaps best known globally for his role as the titular character in House, which ran for eight seasons between 2004 and 2012.
Another one of Mr Laurie’s biggest hits was the spy thriller, The Night Manager, which was released in 2016 and saw him play off against Tom Hiddleston’s Jonathan Pine.
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The six-episode series saw the 66-year-old win a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe for his villainous part as Richard Roper.
He reprised the role in a shock return during the long-awaited second series, which was released earlier this year.
Writer Janet Murray took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to criticise the long-running medical drama, suggesting each episode followed a repetitive formula in which Dr House initially misdiagnoses a patient and nearly loses his job, before eventually solving the case and avoiding dismissal.
“Eight seasons of this?” she asked, drawing an unexpected response from actor Hugh Laurie.
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“Thanks for your critique,” wrote the Blackadder star on X. “We actually tried a couple of episodes where House gets it right first time, but they were only 6 minutes long. NBC weren’t happy.
“Then we tried some where House never gets it right, and the patient dies. The audience wasn’t happy.”
He continued: “One could apply your trenchant analysis to other art forms: JS Bach wrote 30 Goldberg variations on the same chord structure; Frida Kahlo painted 50 portraits of herself; Henry Moore, what??
“The point is, or was, variations on a theme; if all you see is hospital, medical blah blah, then it wasn’t meant for you. Nonetheless, I look forward to your first novel!”
Chiltern Railways has announced that two train services are experiencing delays after unrelated issues.
The more serious event today (Tuesday, June 9) relates to Banbury where there are almost hour-long delays due to people trespassing on the train tracks.
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A spokesperson for the railway company said: “We apologise but due to trespassers on the railway at Banbury, the line towards the West Midlands and London is blocked.”
First reported at around 12.30pm, this is expected to last until at least 2.15pm.
We apologise that due to a problem with line-side equipment between Bicester North and Kings Sutton, trains have to run at reduced speed on both the line towards London and the line towards the West Midlands.
Please check your journey prior to travel via: https://t.co/vWimDIg2w9 … pic.twitter.com/ne15KKYUSH
— Chiltern Railways (@chilternrailway) June 9, 2026
The other issue is centred between Bicester North and King’s Sutton in Northamptonshire, where there are 15 minute delays to services.
We apologise but due to trespassers on the railway at Banbury, the line towards the West Midlands and London is blocked.
Please check your journey prior to travel via: https://t.co/vWimDIg2w9
We’re sorry for the delay to your journey. If you have been delayed by 15 minutes or… pic.twitter.com/iBSaJVoXYd
— Chiltern Railways (@chilternrailway) June 9, 2026
The spokesperson said: “We apologise that due to a problem with line-side equipment between Bicester North and King’s Sutton, trains have to run at reduced speed on both the line towards London and the line towards the West Midlands.”
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First reported at around noon, this issue is predicted to be solved imminently.
The company added that if you have been delayed you may be entitled to compensation, for which you should go to its website.
“We’re sorry for the delay to your journey,” said the spokesperson.
“If you have been delayed by 15 minutes or more, then you are likely to be entitled to compensation.”
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