A Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Manchester flew into the UK with a military escort this afternoon after the pilot declared an emergency over a suspicious package onboard.
One passenger was seen being taken off the plane by armed officers after the QR23 emergency landing:
@BBCBreaking police escort pic.twitter.com/qXUJCllXpc
— Matthew Cox (@MattPeterC) August 5, 2014
According to the Telegraph, the problem began when cabin crew on the Qatari aircraft were passed a note by a passenger. The note reached the captain, who alerted air traffic controllers and scrambled the British fighter jet.
The newspaper quotes Manchester Police Chief Superintendent John O’Hare as saying:
“An incoming plane has been escorted into the airport by the Royal Air Force as a result of information received by the pilot about a possible device on board.
We don’t know how genuine this threat is but it is absolutely vital we deal with the situation as a full emergency.”
He added that he urged people not to be alarmed, saying, “Our response will be as comprehensive as it is proportionate with the safety of those on board and in and around the airport our paramount concern.”
On Twitter, the police force added that passengers were being allowed off the plane and that the threat was likely a hoax:
A man who was onboard the plane at @manairport has been arrested on suspicion of making a hoax bomb threat.
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) August 5, 2014
According to the BBC, all flights in and out of Manchester Airport were suspended for about 20 minutes, but have resumed operations.
Some passengers were snapping pictures and tweeting about their military escort, a RAF Typhoon fighter jet:
Being escorted in pic.twitter.com/oXwxmhNsjo
— Josh Hartley (@JoshHartley_) August 5, 2014
Others on the plane said they didn’t even know what was happening as they sat in the plane until they checked social media:
Apparently I'm in the plane that got escorted by a fighter jet; flight QR23 from Doha
Would have been nice to have been told! @MENnewsdesk
— Matthew Cox (@MattPeterC) August 5, 2014
Passengers also complained about long waits as their luggage was searched after getting off the plane.
In a statement, Qatar Airways said that some 269 passengers and 13 crew members were on board the flight when it landed early. It continued:
“The crew had received a threat about a possible device on board and #QatarAirways immediately took all the necessary precautions to alert British authorities.
The crew is now fully assisting police at the airport with their inquiries. The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew is our top priority. As this is a matter of a police investigation, we cannot comment further at this time.”
Thoughts?
