UK Fighter Jet Escorts Pakistani Plane
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Flight PH709 from Lahore, Pakistan was scheduled to land at the UK’s Manchester airport, but was diverted to Stansted Airport before arrival. British RAF Typhoon fighter jets escorted the plane, carrying 297 passengers, and made two arrests on “suspicion of endangering an aircraft.” Stansted Airport is used as a location for handling security incidents like these, as it is one of London’s smaller and less busy airports.
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According to Reuters, “a security source said early indications were that the plane was not the target of a terrorist attack.” After the murder of solider, Lee Rigby, in London on Wednesday, British security is on high alert. Britain is considering the incident an act of terror.
The Essex Police realeased a statement saying, "Police have boarded a passenger plane diverted to Stansted Airport and two men have been arrested on suspicion of endangerment of an aircraft. They have been removed from the plane.” The UK uses military planes to divert an aircraft when it cannot be stopped by other means.
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