Police swooped on an easyJet aircraft at Stansted Airport in Essex on Wednesday night following a security alert that forced the airport to temporarily close its runways and halt flights from taking off or landing while the incident was resolved.
In a statement, Essex Police said they were called to deal with the security alert at around 7:40 pm on Wednesday and that the plane had already moved to a remote part of the airport where “specialist officers” boarded the aircraft.
Essex Police said its officers worked “quickly and robustly” to resolve the incident and arrested three men for making bomb threats on the Amsterdam-bound flight. “Officers responded quickly and worked with our partners at Stansted to move the plane to a secure area to carry out enquiries,” a police spokesperson said.
“Specialist officers boarded the plane and removed three men who have all been arrested on suspicion of making a bomb hoax and they are currently in custody,” the statement continued. “Following a search of the plane we are satisfied there is nothing of concern on board.”
The incident occurred just a week after a Jet2-operated aircraft was forced to divert to Stansted Airport after a passenger onboard the flight from Bodrum to Manchester started to make bomb threats.
The Jet2 aircraft was intercepted by two Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon fighter jets and forced to land at Stansted where the airport was temporarily put on lockdown while the incident was resolved.
