Pakistan Airlines flight accompanied by fighter jet for emergency landing in UK

Pakistan International Airlines Flight PK709 headed from Lahore to the UK with 297 passengers onboard was diverted from northwestern England’s Manchester Airport to Stansted when two unruly passengers

Pakistan International Airlines Flight PK709 headed from Lahore to the UK with 297 passengers onboard was diverted from northwestern England’s Manchester Airport to Stansted when two unruly passengers threatened an air stewardess that they would blow up the plane. The air stewardesses contacted the pilot, who contacted UK air traffic control.

The UK Defense Ministry immediately sent a fighter jet to escort the Boeing 777 to its landing at 2:10 pm on Friday, May 24, 2013. Typhoon aircraft have also been launched from RAF Coningsby to investigate the incident.

Essex Police reported that officers had arrested the two men on suspicion of endangering an aircraft. It does not appear that this was an act of terrorism, as the police are treating the incident as a criminal offense.

The plane has been isolated from the normal airport while the aircraft, including the cargo are, is searched. Once the inspection is completed, passengers will be flown on the same aircraft to Manchester and then on to Lahore, Pakistan.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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