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Manchester airport bomb scare: Qatar Airways passenger arrested over suspected hoax sectioned under Mental Health Act | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A man arrested in connection with an alleged bomb threat on a Qatar Airways plane that had to be escorted into Manchester Airport by the RAF yesterday has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act. | |
The 47-year-old, who has not been named, was detained by armed police when flight number QR23 from Doha landed on Tuesday afternoon. | The 47-year-old, who has not been named, was detained by armed police when flight number QR23 from Doha landed on Tuesday afternoon. |
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: “Following his arrest he was assessed by medical staff and again by a mental health team. | A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: “Following his arrest he was assessed by medical staff and again by a mental health team. |
"He was subsequently sectioned to allow for a fuller assessment and appropriate treatment." | "He was subsequently sectioned to allow for a fuller assessment and appropriate treatment." |
The Airbus A330-300, which had 269 passengers and 13 crew on board, was escorted by a Typhoon jet from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire after the pilot told air traffic control he had received information about a “possible device” on board. | The Airbus A330-300, which had 269 passengers and 13 crew on board, was escorted by a Typhoon jet from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire after the pilot told air traffic control he had received information about a “possible device” on board. |
The plane being escorted to Manchester Airport. Picture: William Service The threat was allegedly made in a letter handed to a member of the crew. | The plane being escorted to Manchester Airport. Picture: William Service The threat was allegedly made in a letter handed to a member of the crew. |
Armed police surrounded the passenger jet when it landed and a search found no bomb or suspicious device was found on board. | Armed police surrounded the passenger jet when it landed and a search found no bomb or suspicious device was found on board. |
Flights in and out of Manchester Airport were disrupted by the incident as the runway was shut for 25 minutes, forcing nine incoming flights to be diverted. | Flights in and out of Manchester Airport were disrupted by the incident as the runway was shut for 25 minutes, forcing nine incoming flights to be diverted. |
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. | 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. |
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." |
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. |
"We were not told anything,“ he told the BBC as he waited on the plane. | "We were not told anything,“ he told the BBC as he waited on the plane. |
"We got nothing from [the cabin crew] whatsoever. We had no contact and no information apart from what we saw on Twitter." | "We got nothing from [the cabin crew] whatsoever. We had no contact and no information apart from what we saw on Twitter." |
Asked how passengers had reacted to seeing the fighter jet alongside the plane he said: "It think it was pretty calm all the way through but I think some people were shaken up." | Asked how passengers had reacted to seeing the fighter jet alongside the plane he said: "It think it was pretty calm all the way through but I think some people were shaken up." |
An RAF spokesman said the incident was handled by civilian authorities after the safe landing of the plane. | An RAF spokesman said the incident was 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." | 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." |
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