A man has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act after a passenger plane was escorted into Manchester Airport by fighter jets following a bomb hoax.
The man, 47, was assessed by medical staff and again by a mental health team after the incident yesterday afternoon.
When the Airbus A330 plane landed it was immediately attended to by emergency services before the man was taken off by armed police.
Greater Manchester police said the man, from north-west England, was assessed by a mental health team following the mid-air incident.
The force said: “A man, 47, arrested following an incident at Manchester airport has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act.
“Following his arrest he was assessed by medical staff and again by a mental health team. He was subsequently sectioned to allow for a fuller assessment and appropriate treatment.”
The bomb threat was allegedly made in an envelope which was passed to a crew member.
Just seen a passenger plane being escorted by a fighter jet to Manchester airport pic.twitter.com/MQaVsl7Z53
— william service (@WilliamService) August 5, 2014
An RAF spokesman said later that the plane had landed safely and the incident was being handled by civilian authorities.
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.”
The flight was carrying 269 passengers and 13 crew members, with many only aware of the incident after looking online as many people on the ground posted about the incident.
Manchester Airport said nine incoming flights had to be diverted. All flights in and out were suspended for about 25 minutes.
Another pic at #ManchesterAirport pic.twitter.com/9kDe4peXEB
— Becky Sullivan (@Beckiiki) August 5, 2014
Image courtesy of Becky Sullivan, with thanks
