A woman has recalled the terrifying moment her plane was surrounded by armed police after being diverted due to a security threat. Passengers travelling on the Jet2 flight from Dalaman in Turkey on Wednesday, October 12 saw their flight diverted on its way to Manchester Airport following unconfirmed reports of a bomb threat.
Travellers onboard said they had "no idea" what was happening after the plane was escorted by two RAF jets to Stansted Airport in London before being surrounded by armed police. Passenger Andrea Aspinwall from north Wales told the Manchester Evening News that police had their guns pointed at the aircraft which sat stationary for around two hours after the diversion.
Andrea said she sensed that "something was wrong" when the plane began circling in the moments after the pilot announced they would soon be landing at Manchester Airport. She said passengers were told to "sit calm" but that "everyone started panicking".
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"We thought we were near Manchester but then the plane kept circling. The pilot had said we would be landing soon and all the staff were in their seats." Andrea said the toilets were then locked and everyone was told to stay seated before the plane landed after turning.
"When we actually landed on this strip with nothing there, we were taken to a 'red point'", she explained. "The air hostesses couldn't tell us what was going on. We were sat there and then we saw all these armed police driving up. We were terrified. We knew something was wrong then. Police had their guns pointing at the plane."
Andrea explained how "everyone started panicking" as passengers were unaware of what was happening. "I started crying, I'm disabled so I don't take things good as it is. The pilot came on and said 'don't worry we need to sit calm' but no one could stand up and this was for a good two hours. We didn't know where we were. We saw it on the internet and people saw it on social media. Everyone was saying 'oh my god' as it said it was a bomb scare. It was scary, it really was. I don't get frightened very easily but I was scared. It was the scariest moment of my life."
Andrea said the pilot was eventually able to leave the cockpit and speak to passengers, adding that he apologised and said they were told to land as soon as possible. Once passengers were allowed off the plane, she said "the chaos started" as passengers were unsure what would happen next.
"We had to stay downstairs because I was in a wheelchair. They took us up and everyone was screaming and shouting, there were babies. It was awful and I was ignored by Jet2 staff. They didn't know what to do with us. They gave us a voucher to go and get some food, we were told nothing else. Then they said they would put on a coach to get to Manchester but I was starting to struggle. It was 4.30am in the morning when someone came up to me and we were put in a hotel."
After the incident the RAF confirmed that two quick reaction alert typhoon aircraft out of RAF Coningsby near Horncastle were involved in the response. The plane was due to land at Manchester Airport at 9.40pm but landed at Stanstead shortly after 9.20pm. Jet2 confirmed that the flight had been diverted at the request of UK authorities due to a "potential security concern". The exact nature of the concern was not specified.
A spokesperson for Stansted Airport said on Wednesday: "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 reopened."
An RAF spokesman said: "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."
A spokesperson for Jet2 added: "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."
The aircraft was met on the runway by officers from Essex Police. In a statement issued on Thursday the force said they had established no threat on board.
A statement issued on social media read: "We led a safety operation during which a Jet2.com flight from Dalaman to Manchester was diverted to Stansted Airport tonight, Wednesday October 12. Shortly before 9pm, we received a report of a potential threat on board. It was escorted to Stansted where it landed safely.
"It was parked away from the main passenger terminal. The runway was closed for a 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 Manchester Evening News has contacted Jet2 for further comment.
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