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A passenger aircraft which was intercepted and escorted by fighter jets to Stansted airport northeast of London was diverted because of reports of a disruptive passenger, British police said on Tuesday.
“This is not believed to be a hijack situation or terror matter,” Essex Police said in a statement. “The plane is currently at the airport and officers are making enquiries.”
The Ministry of Defence had earlier said Typhoon jets had intercepted the aircraft, which had been en route to London's Heathrow Airport, and escorted it to Stansted.
Flight tracking websites said Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-757 from Lahore to Heathrow had been diverted to Stansted.
Earlier reports said that the PIA flight was escorted to Stansted airport by Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft after reports of a 'suspicious object' on the flight.
“Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon aircraft were launched this afternoon from RAF Coningsby to intercept a civilian aircraft,” the Ministry of Defence had said.
“The aircraft was intercepted and safely escorted to Stansted airport,” the UK ministry said.
Meanwhile, PIA Spokesperson Daniyal Gilani confirmed the incident and issued a statement in this regard saying, "UK authorities received some vague security threat through an anonymous phone call regarding PIA's Lahore-Heathrow flight PK-757 before its landing at Heathrow, after which, as per their standard procedures the aircraft was diverted to Stansted airport."
He added that security clearance is underway and all passengers onboard are safe and being looked after by PIA's local management.
"Passengers will be provided surface transport to London. For the return flight efforts are underway to ensure least inconvenience to passengers," added the spokesperson.
A spokesperson for Stansted airport said the aircraft is likely to continue its journey onwards to Heathrow airport.
Flight PK-757 carrying more than 200 passengers took off from Lahore and landed at Stansted about 3pm UK time. The original destination of the flight was Heathrow airport.
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Comments (56) Closed
Feb 07, 2017 09:11pm
Hope it was only a misunderstanding.
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Feb 07, 2017 09:16pm
How ridiculos can the Brits get, escorting a PIA civilian aircraft with Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft, for what purpose ? Can the jets stop the aircraft from exploding ?
How very dramatic and nonsensical.
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Feb 07, 2017 09:24pm
I live in UK.
Aircraft was only escorted due to a disruptive passenger according to Essex Police.They specifically stated that the aircraft was not escorted due to terror threat.
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Feb 07, 2017 09:24pm
@Pak Patriot, Actually that is the smartest thing to do. Ensure that no hostage like situation and as a result no 9/11 type attack. They were escorting aircraft to airport and as a result ensuring it doesn't deviate from it's flight path. In worst case circumstances the explosion is only effective if aircraft hits ground or just close to ground.
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Feb 07, 2017 09:26pm
Really disappointed by the British Government for dealing with a Civilian flight.. At the end, statement will be issued that information was not correct..
Can British Government has the courage to deal Civilian flight from US in same manner..
Hypocrite British ...
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Feb 07, 2017 09:32pm
It only happens with PIA!!! A joke airline.
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Feb 07, 2017 09:35pm
@Pak Patriot They are not being ridiculous. In such an event that the plane poses a threat, the airforce is instructed to shoot the plane down before it flies into a building or something like that. This lowers the potential for civilian casualties on the ground if the plane is destroyed in the air. This is standard protocol used by all airforces around the world.
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Feb 07, 2017 09:32pm
@Pak Patriot There was threat via phone call with threat. In such a situation security authorities are damned if they do or damned if they don't.
"UK authorities received some vague security threat through an anonymous phone call regarding PIA's Lahore-Heathrow flight PK-757 before its landing at Heathrow, after which, as per their standard procedures the aircraft was diverted to Stansted airport," said PIA Spokesperson Daniyal Gilani.
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Feb 07, 2017 09:40pm
What can the fighter jets do in subduing an unruly passenger? This is very suspicious?
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Feb 07, 2017 09:39pm
@Pak Patriot not entirely. It seems like they were acting with less data. This is like breaking a peanut with hammer.
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Feb 07, 2017 09:52pm
I guess the reason Royal Air Force had to scramble is to make sure the plane crew is in control of the aircraft and is taking commands. If crew do not take commands and there is any reason to believe that cockpit crew are bad guys, then Air Force will shoot the plane down before it does any major damage.
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Feb 07, 2017 09:53pm
Good & swift action by Dawn to correct the story.
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Feb 07, 2017 09:56pm
Every story is us.
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Feb 07, 2017 10:11pm
No word about the disruptive passenger. Who complained about the passenger? Has to be the flight crew or the pilots complaint. PIA needs to be a bit more forthcoming.
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Feb 07, 2017 10:32pm
@Pak Patriot They were not taking chances. That's how you avert potential disasters.
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Feb 07, 2017 10:44pm
@Pak Patriot it's a standard procedure all over the world.
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Feb 07, 2017 10:47pm
Another reason not to fly PIA.
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Feb 07, 2017 11:00pm
@Pak Patriot probably a grand welcome by British Royal force..
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Feb 07, 2017 11:08pm
@Pak Patriot, Please read the article before making such statements. What would you suggest, A tank? Its normal procedure under those circumstances, if it is indeed a terror threat, the jets won't allow it to get near the city.
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Feb 08, 2017 12:08am
This is an enhanced precaution due to the huge disruption in the world caused by the new US President by his insane actions aggravating the existing terror and exporting it to all peaceful places of the world, including the US, only with added vengeance.
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Feb 08, 2017 12:07am
Who raised the alarm and who foots the bill for the security action taken. PIA?
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Feb 08, 2017 12:21am
Why does PIA not name the crook responsible for this?
And tell everyone what really happened.
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Feb 08, 2017 12:35am
Why media is so focused on PIA. There are hundreds of such passengers everyday on many international flights elsewhere.
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Feb 08, 2017 12:39am
WHat a sensible headline. Had it been an Air India plane, it would have been so different.
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Feb 08, 2017 12:39am
bad luck for PIA continues.....
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Feb 08, 2017 12:42am
This is just the beginning.
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Feb 08, 2017 01:02am
@Pak Patriot : It is easy to criticize. Is it not?
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Feb 08, 2017 01:29am
Aircraft are escorted by armed jets just in case they need to destroy them - this will only happen if the PM is consulted and feels that the aircraft maybe used as a weapon of mass destruction as in 9/11
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Feb 08, 2017 01:36am
let is guess, a taxi driver lost his marbles again? remember Manchester few years back?
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Feb 08, 2017 01:59am
Pakistani passengers were dealt as sheeps in the plane after landing, Welcome back.... a warm welcome...
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Feb 08, 2017 02:15am
Great. People to fly with.
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Feb 08, 2017 02:58am
I am about to book flight for my family. We have always used PIA for our intervonyinental flights but we have decided to use Emirates or Qatar this year even if that means a stop-over. Life is too short for bad service and risky airlines.
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Feb 08, 2017 03:27am
That disruptive passenger threatened to crash that aircraft on British parliament. Hence it was escorted
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Feb 08, 2017 03:28am
These fools are still flying PIA....
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Feb 08, 2017 03:32am
This is the new world for Pakistanis. Looks like they will be handled with excessive force. You know the reason too well....
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Feb 08, 2017 03:35am
@Pak Patriot The reason for escorting is to ensure that the aircraft in question is diverted away from from cities/build up areas.
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Feb 08, 2017 04:30am
If this happened in the USA people would be shouting racism.
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Feb 08, 2017 04:42am
Quite melodramatic approach to tackle the matter in mid air by using military jet to escort a passenger carrier just because of a stupid disruptive person on board. How the typhoon could obviate/thwart the danger if in case posed by this person inside the carrier. Common sense says no way.9/11 was a different storey.Was he trying to take over control of the passenger aircraft? What was the nature of disruption and at what point in time it developed as the journey Pakistan to the U.K is of thousands of kilometers and was there any reason for this disruption ?Simply saying that there was a disruptive passenger does not warrant such a measure, anyway .It is waste of tax payers money and inconvenience to many passengers .It should have been left to the police to deal with it, once the aircraft had landed at it's planned destination .
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Feb 08, 2017 06:22am
@Pak Patriot
The RAF Typhoons should have shot down the pia aircraft the moment it entered British airspace -- we do not need more pakistanis to stench up and rot my Great Britain.
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Feb 08, 2017 06:35am
This reminds me of the other PIA flight to Manchester where two friends stated an argument over PTI/ PMLN and started the brawl. Typhoon aircraft had to escort plane to a smaller plane and then PIA was slapped with a £37,000 fine. Such rediculousness.
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Feb 08, 2017 07:45am
Similar situation happened a few years ago on PIA flight. Our Pakistani brothers need to grow up and behave like disciplined citizens.
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Feb 08, 2017 08:07am
Its standard practice at many strategic regions/airports. Not the first time and not the last unfortunately. All the cost of air force plane escort, extra parking, handling and ground services will return charged to the carrier and eventually add up in the security portion of air tickets.
Better be safe then sorry.
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Feb 08, 2017 08:10am
@curious2 no the airline country does not matter .US has scrambled jets in their country against American Airlines when there was a potential threat . Standard operating procedure don't over react because of ignorance .
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Feb 08, 2017 08:58am
@Pak Patriot They can and will shoot it down if the aircraft is heading towards any sensitive area
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Feb 08, 2017 09:37am
This is not a good sign. Pakistan should work towards changing its image. Else ready to face more and more problems.
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Feb 08, 2017 09:48am
@Pak Patriot Its a way to ensure safe airborders. Although it wont do much buts a way to show that aircrafts are quick to response and if there are indeed any issues then airspace can be secured as needed. Pakistan would have done the same thing.
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Feb 09, 2017 02:08pm
@Pak Patriot : How ridiculos can the Brits get, escorting a PIA civilian aircraft with Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft, for what purpose ? Can the jets stop the aircraft from exploding ? How very dramatic and nonsensical.
Nobody takes anything coming from Pakistan for granted & takes extra measures!
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Feb 09, 2017 02:53pm
I wish British Police had spent this effort against Altaf Hussain. Where was the rule of law then?
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Feb 09, 2017 04:26pm
still a vague and strange story. what really happened?
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Feb 09, 2017 05:07pm
The true story will come out eventually UK authorities do not act for nothing.
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Feb 09, 2017 06:24pm
And where is this Stansted airport at? (Sorry for my ignorance)
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Feb 09, 2017 07:34pm
@Ahmed - In Essex, UK (North East London), which is about 30 minutes drive from Central London. It's not too far from London Heathrow, either.
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Feb 09, 2017 08:18pm
We should stop defending or hiding truth if our people are involved. In our family we did conceal bad behavior of our one family member and the result worst in future. If a Pakistanis is involved then let the law decide its outcome.
About PIA flight, same procedure is applied in USA if a distress call is received from an aircraft.sincerely
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Feb 10, 2017 04:39am
@KAKE what image?..it has None.
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Feb 10, 2017 08:00am
Totally nonsense of British Police and Royal Air force. Inconvenienet to passengers and in the end, it will be a false alarm.
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Feb 10, 2017 08:07am
There are many disruptive passengers in other flights too. Why PIA has to be esccorted in a non professional way and why not other airlines are escorted in the same way. I must say....Truly, racism. Nothing else. PIA should sue British government for non professional behaviour and should ask compensation for defaming PIA and for causing inconvenience to the passengers.
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