Qatar Airways Hoax: Fighter Jets Escort Airbus A330 After Pilot Reports Suspicious Package; Suspect Arrested
Fighter jets had to escort a passenger plane to its landing at Manchester Airport on Tuesday after a suspicious device was reported by the pilot.
All air traffic at Manchester Airport was suspended for 25 minutes, according to TIME, as the plane was guided safely toward the ground by the Royal Air Force. The plane is believed to be a Qatar Airways Airbus A330 from Doha in Qatar, the BBC reports.
"We can confirm that Typhoon aircraft were launched from RAF Coningsby in their quick reaction alert role this afternoon to investigate a civilian aircraft whose pilot had requested assistance," Britain's Ministry of Defence said in a statement.
Emergency vehicles and police awaited the plane's arrival and parked near the plane once it landed on the tarmac.
"We don't know how genuine this threat is but it is absolutely vital we deal with the situation as a full emergency," said Chief Superintendent John O'Hare of the Greater Manchester Police, according to the BBC.
Manchester police used Twitter to announce that the suspect found with the suspicious device had been detained "on suspicion of making a hoax bomb threat."
Witnesses on the plane posted pictures on Twitter that showed the suspect being taken off the plane as well as a picture of the fighter jet next to the plane.
Very strange seeing the passenger plane being escorted by a fighter plane, dangerously close as well. @manairport pic.twitter.com/Qfq9SoB8zv
— Robert Whittaker (@Rob_Whittaker1) August 5, 2014
Passenger Josh Hartley, who boarded the plane at Doha in Qatar, said, "Well when the escort came it was very scary -- I'm pretty shook up now."
Qatar Airways confirmed it was their plane, and it was scheduled to fly from Doha, Qatar, to Manchester, England. It had 269 passengers on board as well as 13 crew members.
Britain almost always reacts to situations like these by scrambling fighter jets and having emergency services meet the aircraft when it lands.
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