1 held at Manchester Airport for hoax bomb threat

One passenger aboard a Qatar Airways flight from Doha was detained at Manchester Airport on Tuesday for allegedly making a hoax bomb threat due to which a ‘full emergency’ was declared.

One passenger aboard a Qatar Airways flight from Doha was detained at Manchester Airport on Tuesday for allegedly making a hoax bomb threat due to which a ‘full emergency’ was declared.

Jets of the Royal Air Force (RAF) escorted the plane as it landed there.

All flights in and out of the busy Manchester airport were suspended for about 30 minutes as the Greater Manchester Police and other security officials dealt with the situation that triggered emergency response systems.

The plane involved was an Airbus A330-30, which had 269 passengers and 13 Qatar Airways crew on board. It was escorted by a Typhoon from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

A statement from Qatar Airways said its flight QR23 has landed safely at Manchester Airport ahead of its scheduled arrival time of 13:15 BST. "The crew onboard had received a threat about a possible device on board and Qatar Airways immediately took all the necessary precautions to alert British authorities”.

Earlier, 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.”