Ryanair plane makes emergency landing after note said 'explosives were on board'
A Ryanair flight has been forced to make an emergency landing at London Stansted Airport after a note was found in the toilet claiming there were ‘explosives on board’.
Two RAF jets were scrambled to help the FR1902 flight, which was on its way to Dublin from Krakow, in Poland, when the note was discovered. The captain put out a distress call while flying over the North Sea.
The flight then had to be diverted by two Eurofighter Typhoons to Stansted Airport at around 6.40pm, where emergency services and police waited on standby. An airport spokeswoman confirmed that the fighter jets had rushed out to assist the Boeing 737 following reports of a loss of contact with the pilot.
An airline spokeswoman said: ‘A Ryanair flight from Krakow to Dublin this evening discovered a note in one of the toilets claiming that there were explosives on board.
‘The captain followed procedure by alerting the UK authorities and diverted to the nearest airport (Stansted) where the plane landed normally, but was taxied to a remote stand where passengers disembarked safely.
‘The aircraft and passengers are being checked by the UK police who will decide when they may travel onwards to Dublin on a spare aircraft…
‘Ryanair apologises sincerely for the delay and inconvenience caused to those affected by this diversion.’
She added that passengers in Dublin airport who are waiting to fly to Krakow are being transferred to a separate aircraft in a bid to avoid further delays.
Police are currently at the scene at the airport, where the plane remains.
The airport is a designated airfield for emergency situations.
A Stansted spokeswoman said: ‘Just the police are in attendance. The plane was diverted to the airport during a flight from Krakow to Dublin.’
Footage from the scene shows numerous police cars lined up close to the aircraft, while a witness said the airport was filled with emergency services.
A witness told the Daily Star: ‘Airport is covered with armed police and also around the aircraft lots and lots of fire engines and ambulances.’
Essex Police said on Facebook: ‘A flight from Krakow to Dublin was diverted to Stansted Airport at around 6.40pm on Monday 13 July due to reports of a security alert.
‘The plane is currently at the airport and officers are making enquiries.
‘We’ll bring you more information when we can.’
The flight then had to be diverted by two Eurofighter Typhoons to Stansted Airport at around 6.40pm, where emergency services and police waited on standby. An airport spokeswoman confirmed that the fighter jets had rushed out to assist the Boeing 737 following reports of a loss of contact with the pilot.
An airline spokeswoman said: ‘A Ryanair flight from Krakow to Dublin this evening discovered a note in one of the toilets claiming that there were explosives on board.
‘The captain followed procedure by alerting the UK authorities and diverted to the nearest airport (Stansted) where the plane landed normally, but was taxied to a remote stand where passengers disembarked safely.
‘The aircraft and passengers are being checked by the UK police who will decide when they may travel onwards to Dublin on a spare aircraft…
‘Ryanair apologises sincerely for the delay and inconvenience caused to those affected by this diversion.’
She added that passengers in Dublin airport who are waiting to fly to Krakow are being transferred to a separate aircraft in a bid to avoid further delays.
Police are currently at the scene at the airport, where the plane remains.
The airport is a designated airfield for emergency situations.
A Stansted spokeswoman said: ‘Just the police are in attendance. The plane was diverted to the airport during a flight from Krakow to Dublin.’
Footage from the scene shows numerous police cars lined up close to the aircraft, while a witness said the airport was filled with emergency services.
A witness told the Daily Star: ‘Airport is covered with armed police and also around the aircraft lots and lots of fire engines and ambulances.’
Essex Police said on Facebook: ‘A flight from Krakow to Dublin was diverted to Stansted Airport at around 6.40pm on Monday 13 July due to reports of a security alert.
‘The plane is currently at the airport and officers are making enquiries.
‘We’ll bring you more information when we can.’