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RAF Typhoons scrambled after bomb threat on board Air India flight over London
27 JUN 2019
The RAF Typhoon can be seen escorting the Air India airliner back to Stansted (Image: Alamy Live News.)
Two RAF Typhoons escorted Air India flight 191 to London Stansted after a bomb threat - following reports of a 'sonic boom' over Derby
An Air India passenger plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Stansted Airport after a bomb threat.
The Boeing 777 airliner was escorted into London by two RAF Typhoon fighter jets.
The RAF confirmed it had scrambled the jets due to a bomb scare on board.
Air India posted in a now-deleted tweet that it had made the precautionary landing in London due to a "bomb threat" shortly before 10.30am today.
The airline later said the bomb scare was a hoax call received at Mumbai Airport, adding there was no security risk.
A sonic was widely felt and heard boom in Derby around the same time.
The bomb threat has been confirmed to be a hoax
An RAF spokesman said: "The RAF can confirm QRA Typhoons were launched this morning from RAF Coningsby to intercept a civilian [aircraft].
"The aircraft was escorted to Stansted. The Typhoons transited at supersonic speed for operational reasons; any inconvenience caused to local residents is regretted.”
Essex Police said they are at the airport making enquiries after reports of a security alert.
A social media image showing one of the fighter jets taking to the sky
A map shows where the 'sonic boom' was felt and the locations of the RAF and Air India aircrafts
Stansted Airport released a statement confirming the Air India Boeing 777 had been diverted at 10.15am and had "landed safely with Essex Police in attendance."
A spokesperson tweeted: "It is parked on an isolated stand away from the normal airport operations.
"Our runway has now re-opened and is fully operational. We are very sorry for any delays and disruption caused by the incident, but our first priority is always the safety of passengers and staff.
"Thank you for your patience."
The flight map shows the airline tracing over Britain while the jets were scrambled
The Air India aircraft had been heading from Mumbai to Newark.
The airport added shortly before 11am that its runway had reopened and is fully operational.
"We are sorry for any disruption caused by the incident and would like to thank you for your patience," Stansted tweeted.
A route map online showed how the Air India flight turned back and landed in London.
It came as multiple people across Derby reported experiencing what felt like an 'explosion' this morning.
Police asked those with information to call 999, before telling Mirror Online that the sound was a 'sonic boom' and referring further enquiries to the RAF.
On Twitter it initially speculated the loud blast may have been an earthquake or a 'pressure wave'.
It comes just days after two RAF Typhoon jets were scrambled to escort a Jet2 plane as it returned to Stansted.
The 'sonic boom' sensation was widely reported around Essex.
Air India confirmed a 'bomb threat' report (file photo)
www.mirror.co.uk
27 JUN 2019
The RAF Typhoon can be seen escorting the Air India airliner back to Stansted (Image: Alamy Live News.)
Two RAF Typhoons escorted Air India flight 191 to London Stansted after a bomb threat - following reports of a 'sonic boom' over Derby
An Air India passenger plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Stansted Airport after a bomb threat.
The Boeing 777 airliner was escorted into London by two RAF Typhoon fighter jets.
The RAF confirmed it had scrambled the jets due to a bomb scare on board.
Air India posted in a now-deleted tweet that it had made the precautionary landing in London due to a "bomb threat" shortly before 10.30am today.
The airline later said the bomb scare was a hoax call received at Mumbai Airport, adding there was no security risk.
A sonic was widely felt and heard boom in Derby around the same time.
The bomb threat has been confirmed to be a hoax
An RAF spokesman said: "The RAF can confirm QRA Typhoons were launched this morning from RAF Coningsby to intercept a civilian [aircraft].
"The aircraft was escorted to Stansted. The Typhoons transited at supersonic speed for operational reasons; any inconvenience caused to local residents is regretted.”
Essex Police said they are at the airport making enquiries after reports of a security alert.
A social media image showing one of the fighter jets taking to the sky
A map shows where the 'sonic boom' was felt and the locations of the RAF and Air India aircrafts
Stansted Airport released a statement confirming the Air India Boeing 777 had been diverted at 10.15am and had "landed safely with Essex Police in attendance."
A spokesperson tweeted: "It is parked on an isolated stand away from the normal airport operations.
"Our runway has now re-opened and is fully operational. We are very sorry for any delays and disruption caused by the incident, but our first priority is always the safety of passengers and staff.
"Thank you for your patience."
The flight map shows the airline tracing over Britain while the jets were scrambled
The Air India aircraft had been heading from Mumbai to Newark.
The airport added shortly before 11am that its runway had reopened and is fully operational.
"We are sorry for any disruption caused by the incident and would like to thank you for your patience," Stansted tweeted.
A route map online showed how the Air India flight turned back and landed in London.
It came as multiple people across Derby reported experiencing what felt like an 'explosion' this morning.
Police asked those with information to call 999, before telling Mirror Online that the sound was a 'sonic boom' and referring further enquiries to the RAF.
On Twitter it initially speculated the loud blast may have been an earthquake or a 'pressure wave'.
It comes just days after two RAF Typhoon jets were scrambled to escort a Jet2 plane as it returned to Stansted.
The 'sonic boom' sensation was widely reported around Essex.
Air India confirmed a 'bomb threat' report (file photo)
RAF jets scrambled after bomb threat on board plane flying over London
Two RAF Typhoons escorted Air India flight 191 to London Stansted after a bomb threat - following reports of a 'sonic boom' over Derby
www.mirror.co.uk