RAF fighter jets escort Etihad flight
British fighter jets scrambled to escort an Etihad Airways flight in to land at London’s Stansted Airport on Monday, after it was diverted because of a disruptive passenger.
A 37-year-old British man was arrested after the flight bound from Abu Dhabi to London’s Heathrow Airport landed just after midday on Monday.
Two Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets were scrambled from a nearby military base during the incident to escort the flight.
Essex Police, who were called to attend the incident, told reporters the pilot had reported a passenger making threats and causing a disruption.
A spokeswoman for Abu Dhabi-based Etihad said it was a "simple case of inappropriate comments made on the flight and a disruptive passenger. There was no threat to the safety of the aircraft or the passengers.”
Stansted is the UK’s designated airport to deal with security-related issues such as bomb threats and hijackings. Operations at the airport were suspended while the plane landed.