RAF jets scramble to divert ‘bomb threat’ Ryanair plane bound for UK

‘I could see lots of police and armed forces from the window of the plane. We were told to leave the plane’

TWO RAF Typhoon jets were scrambled to intercept a Ryanair passenger plane after a bomb threat yesterday.

The quick reaction alert force broke the sound barrier over East Anglia to reach the plane in time to divert the Luton-bound jet to Stansted airport.

Once the plane had landed, passengers on the flight from Kaunas, Lithuania, spent several hours having their luggage searched before they were allowed to continue.

Last night it was disclosed that a security warning had been received while the aircraft was still on the ground in Lithuania.

The flight was cleared for take-off after searches, but British security officials then insisted on diverting it to Stansted, the UK’S designated airport for dealing with hijacks and major security alerts, for their own searches.

Airspace around the airport was temporarily closed to allow the jet to land safely at 8.55am. Essex Police said searches revealed nothing suspicious on board.

Jets from RAF Coningsby, Lincs, had been authorised to fly at supersonic speeds, triggering a sonic boom over Suffolk. An RAF spokesman said: “The Typhoon aircraft were authorised to transit at supersonic speed for operational reasons. Any inconvenience caused to local residents is regretted.”

Passenger Ligita Karnilajeva, 69, from Lithuania, said those on board knew of a security alert at Kaunas, but that the flight went ahead smoothly. She said: “I only got worried when we were landing and were told that we hadn’t landed in Luton, but at Stansted.

“I was worried because I could see lots of police and armed forces from the window of the plane. Everybody started taking pictures and phoning. We were told to leave the plane.”

Jonathan Zulberg said the flight had already been delayed by 40 minutes in Lithuania.

“When we were allowed to board we saw fire engines and a police car but weren’t told anything and we took off,” he said. He said a stewardess had told him there had been a bomb threat made in Lithuania but other passengers were made aware only when the captain made an announcement after landing in Britain.

He said: “When I heard [in Lithuania] I was pretty surprised the plane was allowed to take off.”

A spokesman for Ryanair confirmed take-off at Kaunas was delayed after Lithuanian authorities received a bomb threat. Passengers at Stansted were transferred to Luton by coach.

In June, flights on two British airliners were delayed when bomb threats were made at the same airport.