The Hawker Hunter Tower Bridge incident occurred on 5 April 1968 when a Royal Air Force Hawker Hunter FGA .9 jet fighter from No. 1 Squadron , flown by Flt Lt Alan Pollock , flew through Tower Bridge . Unimpressed that senior staff were not going to celebrate the RAF 's 50th birthday with a fly-past , Pollock decided to do something himself . Without authorisation , Pollock flew the Hunter at low altitude down the Thames , past the Houses of Parliament , and continued on toward Tower Bridge . He flew the Hunter beneath the bridge 's walkway , remarking afterwards that it was an afterthought when he saw the bridge looming ahead of him . Pollock was placed under arrest upon landing , and discharged from the RAF on medical grounds without the chance to defend himself at a court martial
Hawker Hunter Tower Bridge incident
Hawker Hunter Tower Bridge incident
Tower Bridge