Ryanair flight escorted by two RAF fighter jets into Stansted Airport

The Ryanair flight was escorted by two RAF Typhoon aircraft
Andy Longhurst
Tom Powell4 October 2017

A Ryanair flight has been escorted into London Stansted by two RAF fighter jets amid a "security" alert.

The airport was placed on lockdown with all flights temporarily grounded at around 9am on Wednesday morning.

Extraordinary photos shared on Twitter show the commercial plane - which departed from Lithuania bound for Luton - being flanked by two jets as it came in to land at Stansted.

Peter Sigrist posted: "On the tarmac at Stansted. The pilot just announced a delay: all flights from London airports are grounded. "Security". Hope not serious."

The RAF said the Ryanair flight was "safely escorted" to Stansted Airport
Andy Longhurst

An MOD spokesman said: “The RAF can confirm quick reaction alert Typhoon aircraft were launched this morning from RAF Coningsby to intercept a civilian aircraft.

“The aircraft was escorted to Stansted airport. Typhoon are authorised to transit at supersonic speed for operational reasons.”

Ryanair flight FR2145 from Lithuania to Luton was forced to land at Stansted
PA

A Stansted Airport spokesman said police were on the scene after the passenger plane was diverted from its route between Kaunas, Lithuania, and Luton Airport, in Bedfordshire.

He added all flights had now resumed after being held for about ten minutes from 8.55am on Wednesday.

"Flights were briefly held while RAF Typhoons escorted the plane in," said the spokesman.

"All flights are now operating as normal;. It was literally a momentary pause."

One passenger, Jonathan Zulberg, said the flight had been delayed for up to 40 minutes in Lithuania.

"When we were allowed to board we saw fire engines and a police car but weren't told anything and we took off," he said.

Police officers escort passengers off the Ryanair plane
PA

He said a stewardess told him there had been a bomb threat made in Lithuania but other passengers learned that only when the captain made an announcement after the plane had landed in Britain.

He said: "First (the) pilot told us of diversion. Then only once landed after about 5-10 mins pilot made announcement of bomb threat.

"When I heard I was pretty surprised the plane was allowed to take off."

Essex Police tweeted: "We are aware of an incident at Stansted Airport. We will bring you more information when we can."

A Ryanair spokesman said: "This flight from Kaunas to London Luton diverted to London Stansted in line with procedures after Lithuanian authorities received a suspected hoax security alert.

"The aircraft landed normally at Stansted and customers will be transferred to Luton by coach when cleared to do so."

The jets were sent from RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire to intercept the flight.

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