Two RAF jets have escorted a Jet2 passenger plane to Stansted Airport following a distress signal.
The commercial aircraft, which was flying from Dalaman, Turkey to Manchester, had to be diverted to the London airport following reports of a bomb threat.
It landed safely and was taken to the runway's designated stand for hijackings and terrorism threats at a remote stand.
The aircraft was met by police upon landing, Stansted Airport confirmed.
The runway was closed for a short time following the incident but has now reopened, the airport said.
A spokesperson for Stansted Airport told The Mirror: "A Jet2.com flight from Dalaman to Manchester diverted to Stansted Airport this evening.
"The plane landed safely and is parked on a remote stand away from the main passenger terminal.
"The runway was closed for a short time but has now re-opened."
The Jet2 flight left Turkey at 6.55pm local time, before flying over Europe and crossing the English channel at 7.45pm.
Two RAF Typhoons raced south from Lincolnshire just before 8pm and, according to flight tracking data, appeared to escort the jet through Essex before the plane landed at Stansted.
It landed at Stansted Airport at 8.22pm.
According to Aviation Source, sources from Jet2 confirmed the reason of the diversion was "a bomb threat made to the aircraft", however the airline has not confirmed this publicly.
A spokesperson for Jet2 told The Mirror said that authorities alerted them to a "potential security threat".
A statement read: “We can confirm that flight LS922 from Dalaman to Manchester diverted to London Stansted this evening under the direction of the UK authorities.
"The aircraft landed safely and taxied to a remote stand, and customers have now disembarked. Our teams are working very hard to look after customers, and we would like to apologise to everyone onboard for any inconvenience or upset caused by this unforeseen incident.
"We understand that the authorities were alerted to a potential security threat, however this has been downgraded and the incident has been declared as over.”
A passenger on the grounded plane
: "Being sat on a plane grounded at Stansted due to a bomb threat is not the way I planned to finish my holiday?"
An RAF spokesman told The Mirror: "The RAF can confirm Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon aircraft were launched this evening from RAF Coningsby to intercept a civilian aircraft that was causing concern.
"The aircraft was safely escorted to Stansted Airport."
Essex Police stated that the plane was "escorted" to Stansted Airport due to a "potential threat on board".
A Facebook statement read: "We led a safety operation during which a Jet2.com flight from Dalaman to Manchester was diverted to London Stansted Airport this evening, Wednesday 12 October.
"Shortly before 9pm, we received a report of a potential threat on board the flight. It was escorted to Stansted Airport, where it landed safely and was parked away from the main passenger terminal.
"The runway was closed for a short time while enquiries were carried out. Officers were then able to establish there was no threat on board. Onward travel was then organised for the passengers and the runway was re-opened."
The Mirror has contacted Essex Police for further information on the incident.
