RAF fighter jets escort Ryanair plane into Stansted after 'bomb threat'
The Ryanair passenger jet is escorted into Stansted CREDIT: ANDY LONGHURSTTwo RAF fighter jets scrambled to intercept a Ryanair plane after a suspected bomb threat.
Passengers were evacuated after plane was diverted from its route between Kaunas, Lithuania, and Luton Airport in Bedfordshire, and forced to land at Stansted, Essex, at around 8.55am.
Credit zulu_wooloo
In an updated statement at 11am, Essex Police said: "We have now completed enquiries after a plane was diverted to Stansted Airport and have not found anything suspicious.
. @flightradar24 trace of Ryanair Flight FR2145 diverted to Stansted pic.twitter.com/vcGYoYmnag
— The Decibel Kid (@thedecibelkid) October 4, 2017
'Sonic boom' heard across Suffolk
A sonic boom echoed across the Suffolk skyline when the jets were scrambled, Suffolk Police confirmed.
The fighter jets were sent from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire to intercept the flight, the Ministry of Defence said.
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."