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Britain diverts Pakistan plane

May 24, 2013

British police have arrested two men on suspicion of endangering an aircraft after fighter jets were scrambled to deal with an incident onboard a plane from Pakistan. Early reports suggest it was not a terrorist attack.

https://p.dw.com/p/18dW7
Police officers leave a Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 777 aircraft on the tarmac at Stansted Airport, southern England, May 24, 2013. British fighter jets escorted a Pakistan International Airlines passenger plane to Stansted Airport near London on Friday, where police went on board and arrested two men on suspicion of endangering an aircraft. REUTERS/ Paul Hackett (BRITAIN - Tags: CRIME LAW TRANSPORT)
Image: Reuters

The Defense Ministry said the two men were arrested on Friday after a Pakistan International Airlines flight was diverted from its intended destination at Manchester airport.

Typhoon jets escorted flight PK709 to Stansted airport in Essex, near London after an incident was reported onboard.

The arrested men, aged 30 and 41, stand accused of "endangerment of an aircraft," police in Essex said in a statement. They have been taken to a police station for interview.

There has been no official confirmation regarding what prompted the flight's diversion, although a British security official, speaking on a condition of anonymity, said the incident did not appear to be terror-related.

The plane, which had been travelling from the Pakistani city of Lahore to Manchester airport, was believed to have been carrying 297 passengers. According to a spokesman for Stansted Airport all passengers have now safely disembarked and the plane was being held in an isolated area.

Britain has been on high alert since the murder of a solider in London on Wednesday in what police are treating as a terrorist incident.

ccp/kms (AFP, Reuters, dpa)