PICTURED: Jet2 plane at centre of mid-air 'bomb threat' scare

PICTURED: Jet2 plane at centre of mid-air ‘bomb threat’ scare after it was forced to make emergency landing at Stansted – as video shows moment it was escorted to safety by two RAF Typhoons

• Jet2 holiday plane was intercepted and escorted by two RAF jets last night
• Video shows the A321 aircraft flying over Essex amid a security scare 
• The plane landed in Stansted before armed police searched the aircraft
• Passengers were released after no threat was found onboard 
• ***Were YOU on the Jet2 flight? Tell us what happened by emailing [email protected] or calling 020 3615 4021*** 

A Jet2 plane was intercepted by RAF fighters and forced to make an emergency landing last night amid a security scare.

Video shows the moment the A321 aircraft was escorted by military jets to London Stansted airport over the skies of Essex after it was forced to turn around mid-air and make an emergency landing.

Footage shows the airliner flying over Braintree after it was diverted by two Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon jets amid fears of a ‘bomb threat’ made against the plane carrying up to 220 passengers.

Were YOU on the intercepted Jet2 flight? 

Tell us what happened by emailing [email protected] or calling 020 3615 4021 

The holidaymakers were then held onboard at Stansted while armed police searched the aircraft. Essex Police said no threat was found on the plane and the passengers were later allowed to leave the plane at around 11.40pm. 

Flight tracking data showed the Jet2 flight had left Dalaman, Turkey at around 6.55pm local time, before flying over Europe and crossing the Channel at around 7.45pm. The aircraft, operating under flight number LS922/EXS46Y, then appeared to change course shortly before 8pm.

According to tracking app FlightRadar24, the plane then performed a U-turn and descended in altitude over Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire.  It then continued to descend in the air above Essex, escorted by two RAF Typhoons, before landing at Stansted at around 8.22pm.

It then taxied to a remote stand away from the terminals amid reports of a bomb threat, where it was met by armed police.

Video showed multiple emergency service vehicles including fire engines, ambulances and police cars waiting outside the airport. According to AviationSource, sources within the airline said the flight was escorted to the ground after a ‘bomb threat made to the aircraft’.

Flight tracking data shows the two military aircraft dovetailing with the plane as it made its descent into the airport.

MailOnline has contacted Essex Police for further information. 

The grounded Jet2 plane forced to land at Stansted Airport last night

Emergency services at Stansted Airport after a Jet2 plane was intercepted by RAF jets 

Footage shows the A321 aircraft flying over Braintree after it was forced to turn around mid-air and make an emergency landing at Stansted amid fears of a ‘bomb threat’ made against the plane. One of the planes is believed to be one of two Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon jets which took off from RAF Coningsby and intercepted the Jet2 airliner bound for Manchester

The Jet2 aircraft turned around in the air to the north of London before landing at Stansted

The flight from Dalaman in Turkey had been due to land at Manchester Airport last night

A photo claiming to be from the scene shows the aircraft

A spokesperson for the force said last night: ‘We led a safety operation during which a Jet2.com flight from Dalaman to Manchester was diverted to London Stansted Airport this evening, Wednesday 12 October. 

‘Shortly before 9pm, we received a report of a potential threat on board the flight. It was escorted to Stansted Airport, where it landed safely and was parked away from the main passenger terminal. The runway was closed for a short time while enquiries were carried out. Officers were then able to establish there was no threat on board. Onward travel was then organised for the passengers and the runway was re-opened.’

A spokesperson for Jet2 said: ‘We can confirm that flight LS922 from Dalaman to Manchester diverted to London Stansted this evening under the direction of the UK authorities. 

‘The aircraft landed safely and taxied to a remote stand, and customers have now disembarked. 

‘Our teams are working very hard to look after customers, and we would like to apologise to everyone onboard for any inconvenience or upset caused by this unforeseen incident. 

‘We understand that the authorities were alerted to a potential security threat, however this has been downgraded and the incident has been declared as over.’

Earlier in the evening an RAF spokesman said it had scrambled jets to intercept a place ‘that was causing concern.

He said: ‘The RAF can confirm Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon aircraft were launched this evening from RAF Coningsby to intercept a civilian aircraft that was causing concern. The aircraft was safely escorted to Stansted Airport.’

Flight tracking data shows the two RAF jets dovetailing with the passenger aircraft as it made its descent into Stansted

Two RAF Typhoons (file image) were scrambled to intercept an aircraft that was ‘causing concern’, the RAF said

A spokesperson for Stansted Airport told MailOnline that airspace around the airport was closed for a ‘short period of time’ while the flight was escorted by military jets. 

They added one incoming flight was diverted to allow this to happen and the runway was closed, but the airport has since fully reopened. 

They said: ‘A Jet2.com flight from Dalaman to Manchester diverted to Stansted Airport this evening.

‘The plane landed safely and is parked on a remote stand away from the main passenger terminal.

‘The runway was closed for a short time but has now re-opened.’

Were YOU on the Jet2 flight? Tell us what happened by emailing [email protected] or calling 020 3615 4021 

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