VIDEO: Armed police have arrested a passenger after a plane was accompanied to the ground by an RAF fighter jet amid reports of a suspect device on board.
Greater Manchester Police said the man was held on suspicion of making a hoax bomb threat after the Qatar Airways flight QR23 passenger flight from Doha to Manchester landed safely with an escort at around 1pm.
An RAF fighter jet was scrambled at after the plane's pilot received information about "a possible device on board", authorities said.
Qatar Airways confirmed 269 passengers and 13 crew members were on board the Airbus 330-300 during the incident, which was also confirmed by Chief Superintendent of Greater Manchester Police John O'Hare.
The airline said in a statement: "The crew on-board had received a threat about a possible device on board and Qatar Airways immediately took all the necessary precautions to alert British authorities.
"The crew is now fully assisting police at the airport with their inquiries."
One of the passengers on board the plane, Joshua Hartley, told the BBC he learned of the situation on Twitter.
An image shows armed police flanking a man on board the plane"When the escort came it was pretty scary, I'm pretty shook up now," he said.
"I thought something might be wrong. I found out what was happening on Twitter. We didn't get told anything."
Ch Supt O'Hare said: "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."
Fighter jet escort: An RAF Typhoon was scrambled to escort the planeManchester Airport and Greater Manchester Police said the situation had come to an end around an hour after the alarm was raised.
The airport said nine incoming flights had to be diverted to other airports, with five of these landing at Leeds Bradford airport.
One of the flights that landed on time at Manchester once the emergency was over was the plane carrying Manchester United back from Florida where the team has been playing in a pre-season friendly tournament.
An RAF spokesman said the plane had landed safely and the incident was being handled by civilian authorities.
Being escorted in pic.twitter.com/SlV57ybCWj
— Josh Hartley (@JoshHartley_) August 5, 2014
He said: "We can confirm that Typhoon aircraft were launched from RAF Coningsby in their quick reaction alert role this afternoon to investigate a civilian aircraft whose pilot had requested assistance.
"The aircraft was escorted to Manchester where it landed safely. This incident is now being handled by the civilian authorities."
Armed police pictured surrounding the plane at Manchester airportWitness Paul Bell, who was on his way to the airport in a taxi, told Sky News that he saw the RAF Typhoon meet the passenger plane.
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