UK scrambles fighter jets after Air India ‘bomb threat’

LONDON: Britain on Thursday scrambled fighter jets to escort an Air India passenger flight forced to land at London’s Stansted Airport following a "bomb threat", security officials and the airline said.

"The RAF (Royal Air Force) can confirm Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon aircraft were launched this morning... to intercept a civilian aircraft," Britain’s defence ministry said in a statement. "The aircraft was safely escorted to Stansted Airport."

The plane, en route from the Indian city of Mumbai to Newark in the United States, made a "precautionary landing" at the airport following a "bomb threat", Air India said in a tweet that was subsequently deleted. British police said the plane was diverted to Stansted at around 9:50am local time (0850 GMT) following "reports of a security alert".

"The plane is currently at the airport and officers are making enquiries," Essex police said on Twitter. Stansted Airport, northeast of London, said the Boeing 777 landed there 25 minutes later with police in attendance.

"It is parked on an isolated stand away from the normal airport operations," it added in a statement, noting its runway had fully reopened. British reports suggested the scrambled fighter jets had caused a sonic boom heard across the impacted area.