Flight services have resumed at Manchester Airport after a fighter jet was scrambled to escort a passenger plane.
Greater Manchester Police said the Qatar Airways pilot received information about a possible device on board. The Airbus A330-30 had 269 passengers and 13 crew on board.
The news first broke on Twitter where eyewitnesses posted pictures of an RAF jet flying behind the airliner which was travelling from Doha.
Qatar Airways in a statement said that flight QR23 from Doha to Manchester, an Airbus A330-300, landed safely at Manchester Airport ahead of its scheduled arrival time of 13:15. There were 269 passengers and 13 Qatar Airways crew on board. The crew had received a threat about a possible device on board and #QatarAirways immediately took all the necessary precautions to alert British authorities.
A spokesman for the airport said one runway was shut for around 25 minutes leading to the diversion of nine aircraft.
In a statement 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.
“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.”
Police say they have arrested one passenger on suspicion of making a bomb hoax.