British police on Tuesday arrested a man suspected of making a hoax bomb threat aboard a Qatar Airways plane that caused it to be escorted down by a military fighter jet. A Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon guided the plane, which was travelling from Doha with 282 people on board, to Manchester airport in north-west England. Witnesses on board said armed police entered the aircraft and escorted the suspect off with his hands on his head.
"A 47-year-old man from the northwest (of England) has been arrested on suspicion of making a bomb hoax and remains in police custody for questioning," said Chief Superintendent John O'Hare of Greater Manchester Police. "A full search of the aircraft has now finished and nothing suspicious was found. "The incident arose when the pilot received information about a possible device on board the plane, having been handed a note from a passenger."