Hoax security threat grounds flights at Stansted
All flights at Stansted were temporarily grounded this morning as a Ryanair flight was escorted into the airport by RAF fighter jets amid a security alert.
The flight from Kaunas in Lithuania, which was heading to Luton, was intercepted by Typhoon aircraft from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.
Ryanair said the flight was diverted to Stansted ‘in line with procedures’ after Lithuanian authorities received a suspected hoax security alert.
Flights from Stansted have since resumed, after being held for about 10 minutes from 8.55 am.
A spokesman said: "Flights were briefly held while RAF Typhoons escorted the plane in. All flights are now operating as normal. It was literally a momentary pause."
Passengers on the Ryanair flight are being transferred to Luton by coach after being cleared by security.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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