A passenger has been arrested on suspicion of making a hoax bomb threat that forced a Qatar Airways flight to land at an airport in northern England on Tuesday afternoon, police said.
The airplane was escorted to Manchester Airport by two Royal Air Force jets after crew members reported a threat relating to a "possible device" on board.
Greater Manchester Police posted on social media website Twitter that a male passenger had been arrested, while other passengers were being allowed to leave the airplane.
According to a statement from Qatar Airways, the Airbus A330-30 had 269 passengers and 13 Qatar Airways crew on board.
Manchester Airport noted that several incoming flights had to be diverted to other UK airports.
"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,” said Chief Superintendent John O’Hare, in an earlier statement.
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