Man arrested after 'hoax bomb threat' on Qatar Airways flight triggers full emergency and RAF scrambles Typhoon to escort plane into Manchester Airport

• .Typhoon fighter jet scrambled amid fears for passenger jet flying from Doha
• .RAF plane escorts flight to airport where it touches down safely on runway
• .After armed police surround the aircraft, a man is escorted from the plane
• .Police confirm he was arrested on suspicion of making a hoax bomb threat

By RICHARD SPILLETT

A suspected hoax bomber was arrested at Manchester Airport today after an RAF fighter jet was scrambled to intercept a flight from Qatar.

Concerns were raised about Qatar Airways flight QR23, which was flying to Britain from Doha, and a Typhoon jet was sent from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire to accompany the flight into land.

The Airbus A330 plane was surrounded by armed police officers and fire engines after it touched down and a man was escorted from the aircraft.

Police have confirmed the man pulled from the flight has been arrested on suspicion of making a hoax bomb threat.

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An RAF Typhoon jet accompanied a Qatar Airways flight into land at Manchester airport after the pilot of the plane raised the alarm over concerns a 'device was on board'

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A passenger on board the aircraft tweeted this photo of a man being escorted away by police 

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The man, wearing a green t-shirt with silver lettering, was then pictured being led onto the tarmac by police

On board plane footage shows jet escort and silent passengers

A passenger on the flight said he watched as armed police officers escorted a man from the plane.

Josh Hartley, who boarded the plane at Doha in Qatar, said the episode left passengers remaining on the plane feeling 'shaken up'.

He told BBC: 'The flight was pretty calm all the way through, but some people are shaken up, quite a few. It was scary.

'One guy has been escorted off the plane already but we're still on it. We've heard nothing yet. We've had no information all the way through this.'

Speaking of the moment he became aware of the RAF Typhoon following the plane, he said: 'I thought it was just a one off thing, then I realised it had stayed for four or five minutes. I was thinking of the possibilities.'

 

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Another passenger, Matthew Qox, added: 'Armed police came on and found a guy, searched him and made him stand up with his hands on his head and took him off the plane.

'He seemed no different to others on the plane, nothing unusual.'

A video shot by a passenger on board the aircraft shows the jet fighter pulling alongside the airliner as it comes into land.

Greater Manchester Police's Chief Superintendent John O'Hare, said: 'An incoming plane has been escorted into the airport by the Royal Air Force as a result of information received by the pilot about a possible device on board. 

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The plane was surrounded by armed police and fire engines after it came into land

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The fighter jet was pictured arching around the Qatar Airways Airbus after contacted authorities on the ground

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The pilot alerted those on the ground to what was happening on board and a 'quick reaction' jet was scrambled

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The RAF fighter jet circled the plane in the skies over Manchester after tracking it from the peak district

'We don't know how genuine this threat is but it is absolutely vital we deal with the situation as a full emergency.

'As a result people will see the police and other agencies at the airport and on the airfield.

'At this time I would urge them not to be alarmed. 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.'

Residents of Manchester have said they heard the RAF plane screech overhead as the airliner came in to land.

One said: 'I saw the fighter jet come from nowhere on the heels of the passenger plane. It seemed really close and was incredibly noisy.

'I thought it was going to hit the plane. It was circling so close. The jet looked like it was following the plane to the airport.'

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Photos taken from the ground show the fighter circling the much-larger passenger plane over the city

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Residents of the city say the fighter 'came from nowhere' to fly alongside the Airbus A330 airliner

Another said: 'It came over my house. It was so loud. It was a fighter jet and looked like it was heading to Manchester Airport.' 

An RAF spokesman said later that the plane had landed safely and the incident was being handled by civilian authorities.

He said: 'We can confirm that Typhoon aircraft were launched from RAF Coningsby in their quick reaction alert role this afternoon to investigate a civilian aircraft whose pilot had requested assistance.

'The aircraft was escorted to Manchester where it landed safely. This incident is now being handled by the civilian authorities.'