Man arrested at Manchester Airport on suspicion of hoax bomb threat
A man was arrested on suspicion of making a hoax bomb threat on Qatar Airways flight QR23, which had to be escorted by a Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter jet into Manchester Airport on Tuesday afternoon.
The plane landed safely at the airport, where a full-scale emergency was declared and incoming flights were diverted towards other airports in the area.
The airliner involved is understood to be an Airbus A330, thought to have taken off from Doha in Qatar, which was escorted by a Typhoon from the RAF base on Coningsby in Lincolnshire.
Chief superintendent John O'Hare of the Greater Manchester Police told the BBC: "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."
The airport has since returned to normality.
Travel stocks in London and Europe were down following an earlier news report claiming that Russian authorities might impose retaliatory sanctions on European airlines, such as banning flights over Siberia.
DC