Ryanair flight given RAF jet escort after security threat over UK

Police say it was not believed to be a hijack situation

epa06231689 A Ryanair Boeing 737 landing at Dublin Airport, Ireland, 28 September 2017. Ryanair is facing enforcement action from the Civil Aviation Authority, as the no-frills carrier announces a second wave of flight cancellations that will affect 400,000 customers. EPA/AIDAN CRAWLEY

The Ryanair flight was due to land at Luton Airport but landed at London Stansted instead. Aidan Crawley / EPA

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The National
Oct 04, 2017
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A Ryanair passenger flight from Lithuania to London Stansted was given an escort by Royal Air Force Typhoon jets after a suspected hoax security threat.

The plane was travelling from Kaunas, Lithuania to Luton Airport but was diverted to Stansted. Flights were grounded for a short period before resuming just before 9am on Wednesday, according to a statement from Stansted Airport.

Ryanair says in a statement that the flight was diverted "after Lithuanian authorities received a suspected hoax security alert".

Photos posted on Twitter showed the RAF jets tailing the passenger jet at a low altitude over the UK.

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Stansted often deals with hijacks and major security alerts and normally has the planes land on a remote field northwest of the terminal building.

Essex Police say the incident is "not believed to be a hijack situation or terror matter".

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