Fighter jet escorts Qatar Airways flight to Manchester, man on board arrested
A fighter jet of the Royal Air Force was scrambled to escort a Qatar Airways flight as it made its way from Doha, Qatar, to Manchester, England.
Initial reports said the concern was over a possible bomb on board.
BREAKING: Royal Air Force fighters escort Qatar Airways jet to Manchester airport over reports of possible device on board.
— Bloomberg News (@BloombergNews) August 5, 2014
Passenger plane given RAF escort into #Manchester Airport after suggestion of "device" on board, police say https://t.co/dTiW9rSptk — BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) August 5, 2014
Russia Today reported that the flight was coded QR 23, which had a flight path of Doha to Manchester. The aircraft is an Airbuss A330, which can accomodate nearly 340 passengers.
Images of the fighter jet escort, posted both from the ground and within the plane, quickly appeared on social media.
Just seen a passenger plane being escorted by a fighter jet to Manchester airport pic.twitter.com/MQaVsl7Z53
— william service (@WilliamService) August 5, 2014
RAF jets escort Qatar Airways plane to Manchester Airport - live coverage https://t.co/rBn8FlYghR #QR023 pic.twitter.com/TRGl1NNjvW — Guardian news (@guardiannews) August 5, 2014
Qatar plane being escorted by jet over manchester. Threat or escort? Wierd! pic.twitter.com/QJMaj9E41a — Shaun (@TURN312) August 5, 2014
Being escorted in pic.twitter.com/SlV57ybCWj — Josh Hartley (@JoshHartley_) August 5, 2014
Upon landing, armed police boarded the plane and apprehended one individual.
BREAKING NEWS: Armed Police Arrest A Passenger On Aircraft At Manchester Airport: @bbcbreaking @LBC @ITN @SkyNews pic.twitter.com/OGyKXg9yTW
— Martin Shine (@MartinShine) August 5, 2014
Photo shows man being led off Qatar Airways plane by armed police https://t.co/ogSHmRip0s pic.twitter.com/q0MvCoqi6o — ITV News (@itvnews) August 5, 2014
Reports from shortly after the man's arrest said the incident was a hoax.
Man arrested on suspicion of making a hoax bomb threat on Qatar Airways flight #QR23 https://t.co/P6pS5GMALm pic.twitter.com/D0uMJfKXB9 — The Independent (@Independent) August 5, 2014
BREAKING NEWS: Armed Police Arrest A Passenger On Aircraft At Manchester Airport: @bbcbreaking @LBC @ITN @SkyNews pic.twitter.com/OGyKXg9yTW
— Martin Shine (@MartinShine) August 5, 2014
