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| Manchester airport emergency: Military jet escorts passenger plane from Qatar after pilot told of 'possible device' on board | Manchester airport emergency: Military jet escorts passenger plane from Qatar after pilot told of 'possible device' on board |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An incoming plane has been escorted into Manchester Airport by the RAF because of a "possible device" on board. | An incoming plane has been escorted into Manchester Airport by the RAF because of a "possible device" on board. |
| A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said the aircraft was accompanied by a fighter jet as it landed "as a result of information received by the pilot about a possible device". | |
| The aircraft is believed to be Qatar Airways Airbus A330, and the RAF plane was a Typhoon from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. | |
| On Twitter, the force said the jet had landed at by 1.30pm and police and airport staff were "dealing with the situation as an emergency". | |
| Passengers said on Twitter that armed police were outside the plane shortly afterwards and images later showed a man in a green t-shirt being escorted off the plane by armed guards. | |
| People are now believed to be disembarking from the plane and it is understood that no bomb or suspicious device was found on board. | |
| @BBCBreaking police escort pic.twitter.com/qXUJCllXpc | |
| Flights in and out of Manchester Airport were disrupted by the incident but police said it was "business as usual" by 2pm as they continued to deal with the Qatar flight. | |
| Footage from on board the plane and on the ground showed the Typhoon flying level with the passenger jet on its left side as it descended. | |
| Chief Superintendent John O'Hare said: "Safety of those on board as well as those in and around airport our paramount concern." | Chief Superintendent John O'Hare said: "Safety of those on board as well as those in and around airport our paramount concern." |
| He added: "We don't know how genuine this threat is but it is absolutely vital we deal with the situation as a full emergency. | He added: "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. | "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." | "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." |
| The flight is number QR023 from Doha and circled twice around the south of the Peak District before approaching the airport, the Manchester Evening News reported. | The flight is number QR023 from Doha and circled twice around the south of the Peak District before approaching the airport, the Manchester Evening News reported. |
| A passenger, Josh Hartley, tweeted pictures and a video of the RAF plane flying alongside the aircraft, writing: "Okay no [sic] I am worried." | A passenger, Josh Hartley, tweeted pictures and a video of the RAF plane flying alongside the aircraft, writing: "Okay no [sic] I am worried." |
| Shortly before 1.30pm, he wrote: "Landed duno what the f*** is happening." | Shortly before 1.30pm, he wrote: "Landed duno what the f*** is happening." |
| He appeared to only learn about the possible device on the plane from tweets sent by media outlets. | He appeared to only learn about the possible device on the plane from tweets sent by media outlets. |
| The plane was parked at remote location at Manchester airport Paul Bell, who was on his way to the airport in a taxi, told Sky News that he saw the RAF Typhoon meet the passenger plane. | |
| He said: "We heard the fighter jet circling over Stockport, and literally 10 minutes later we saw the plane coming in being followed by it. | |
| "We saw the [RAF Typhoon] coming in, literally flying around the aeroplane. | |
| "It then pinged up on the sat nav that the airport is on lock-down." | |
| Manchester Police said it was "business as usual" for other flights at the airport by 2pm due to a swift response. | |
| "Police are still dealing with the matter as an isolated incident," a statement said. | |
| Authorities are following "standard procedures" in dealing with a possible threat, according David Kaminski-Morrow, the air transport editor of Flightglobal magazine. | |
| He said: "In situations like these, the plan is always to get the aircraft down at the nearest available landing site. | |
| "It could be that a threat could have been phoned in and passed on to the captain. It could be that someone on board has spotted something. | |
| "In any event, no one wants to take any chances." | |
| An RAF spokesman said the incident was being handled by civilian authorities after the safe landing of the plane. | |
| He added: "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." | |
| More to follow. | More to follow. |