Around 300 passengers were “quarantined” after two RAF Typhoon jets escorted their Air India flight to London Stansted Airport because of a reported bomb threat.
The Boeing 777 civilian aircraft was flying from Mumbai to Newark in the US when it made a precautionary landing at 10am on Thursday.
Essex Police said officers found nothing suspicious on board and the aircraft had been handed back to the operator and Stansted Airport.
Air India told the BBC the threat was made in an email to Mumbai airport.
UPDATE at 4pm:
Following investigations on the plane, we have now been able to establish there is nothing suspicious on board.
The aircraft has been handed back to @STN_Airport and the operator.
We appreciate the patience and understand of everyone involved. pic.twitter.com/l5DPAn7w3G
— Essex Police (@EssexPoliceUK) June 27, 2019
Passengers were made to wait for a few hours while staff checked their boarding passes.
One passenger, using the Twitter handle @DinoGoel, who posted a video on Twitter showing the police searching baggage, said around 300 passengers were caught in the disruption.
“This has been a very good and safe experience. The local authorities in UK have been extremely respectful. We are now at a quarantined reception area at the Stansted Airport.”
We are all being brought safely to a holding area here inside the airport building. It’s a slow process because every passenger is being disembarked, frisked, all bags sniffed by dogs. pic.twitter.com/wpHcK1I62e
— DG (@DinoGoel) June 27, 2019
He added: “We are all being brought safely to a holding area here inside the airport building. It’s a slow process because every passenger is being disembarked, frisked, all bags sniffed by dogs.
“Nothing in the aircraft. The flight departure from Mumbai itself was delayed by three hours, which is what most passengers are upset about. First the delayed departure and then this.”
This came after the two RAF jets were launched from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, causing a loud bang which was heard by residents of Derby just after 10am.
The sound was caused by a sonic boom when the jets scrambled to respond entered supersonic speed.
“The aircraft was safely escorted to Stansted Airport. The Typhoon aircraft were authorised to transit at supersonic speed for operational reasons; any inconvenience caused to local residents is regretted.”
