Two Held After Raf Typhoon Jets Escort Pakistan Plane Over Uk

[Maestro]

24 May 2013 Last updated at 17:24 GMT

Two held after RAF Typhoon jets escort Pakistan plane over UK

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of endangerment of an aircraft after RAF Typhoon jets were scrambled to escort a passenger plane over the UK.

Police boarded Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK709, originally en route to Manchester from Lahore, after it was diverted to Stansted.

The British nationals being held are aged 30 and 41, Essex Police said.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22658979

-- BBC 2013-05-24

[manarak]

Police declined to release the identities of the two men, saying only they are British nationals ages 30 and 41.

ah the police are such killjoys

I always wonder what goes on in the heads of such persons that feel an irrepressible urge to do something stupid instead of staying sat.

[Maestro]

An additional detail:

...

Wajid Hasan, Pakistan's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, told CNN that the two passengers "got into an altercation with air stewardesses and threatened to blow up the plane."

...

Source:

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/24/world/europe/uk-flight-diverted/index.html

[webfact]

Pictured:

Two men who 'tried to get in cockpit during flight from Pakistan to Britain' as they are searched on the tarmac at Stansted

Full story: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2330327/Two-men-tried-cockpit-flight-Pakistan-Britain-pictured.html

[webfact]

Two Arrested In London After Bomb Threat Diverts Pakistani Passenger Flight

LONDON (BNO NEWS) -- Two people were arrested after a bomb threat forced a Pakistani passenger aircraft carrying hundreds to divert and land in the United Kingdom on Friday, local authorities said.

The international passenger airplane operated by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was traveling from Lahore to Manchester with 297 passengers and 11 crew members when two British nationals on board claimed having a bomb.

The Royal Air Force (RAF) quickly deployed Typhoon jets from Coningsby in Lincolnshire after the pilot, Captain Nadeem Sufi, who was in charge of flight PK 709, sent out the stress signal regarding the midair emergency. The jets then escorted the aircraft towards its landing, as it was diverted to the Stansted Airport, located just east of central London.

According to a PIA source that spoke with Geo News, the two arrested were identified as Mohammad Shafqat and Ammara Ashraf, who were among a group of 8 to 10 family members traveling on the plane.

The group began arguing, and when crew members approached them as it was getting out of control, Shafqat and Ashraf threatened blowing up the plane. In addition, a passenger said both of the passengers had previously tried to enter the cockpit.

Upon the emergency landing, Essex Police handcuffed and arrested the suspects on suspicion of endangerment of an aircraft. However, authorities are not considering the incident as an act of terrorism. All passenger landed safely, and no injuries were reported.

(Copyright 2013 by BNO News B.V. All rights reserved. Info: [email protected].)

[GeorgeO]

I think they should make an example of them, not least because of the disruption caused to the airports and all of the other affected passengers.

Anyone who believes they can get up to such nonsense with impunity needs to ponder over their actions in a confined space for a long time ....!

Edited May 25, 2013 by Scott

[chooka]

Police declined to release the identities of the two men, saying only they are British nationals ages 30 and 41.

ah the police are such killjoys

I always wonder what goes on in the heads of such persons that feel an irrepressible urge to do something stupid instead of staying sat.

David Brown and Billy Smith????

[Buckeye21]

Put them both in a very small cell, together.

[JetsetBkk]

Police declined to release the identities of the two men, saying only they are British nationals ages 30 and 41.

ah the police are such killjoys

I always wonder what goes on in the heads of such persons that feel an irrepressible urge to do something stupid instead of staying sat.

David Brown and Billy Smith????

Somehow I don't think these "British Nationals" have names like that. Just like another couple in London a few days ago.

[lee b]

Yeah they picked a great time for this did'nt they after whats happened this week ! Put them in the planes under carrage when it is back on route to pakistan and drop them out in mid air !

[how241]

Put them both in a very small cell, together.

+1

[VocalNeal]

Make them pay for the Tornado jet fuel and airframe hours!! That will discourage anyone else.

[RickBradford]

Or perhaps the UK authorities could have the guts to do what these people really wouldn't like -- revoke their British citizenship and that of their families, and deport them, preferably in time for the return flight of this same aeroplane back to Pakistan.

[Wat dee]

Or perhaps the UK authorities could have the guts to do what these people really wouldn't like -- revoke their British citizenship and that of their families, and deport them, preferably in time for the return flight of this same aeroplane back to Pakistan.

Where do you deport British Citizens...Australia??

[Mosha]

Or perhaps the UK authorities could have the guts to do what these people really wouldn't like -- revoke their British citizenship and that of their families, and deport them, preferably in time for the return flight of this same aeroplane back to Pakistan.

Where do you deport British Citizens...Australia??

The same country whose flag they wave when Pakistan plays England at cricket would be my guess.

[chooka]

Or perhaps the UK authorities could have the guts to do what these people really wouldn't like -- revoke their British citizenship and that of their families, and deport them, preferably in time for the return flight of this same aeroplane back to Pakistan.

Where do you deport British Citizens...Australia??

Once upon a time, but wer'e full now sorry

[Morden]

Make them pay for the Tornado jet fuel and airframe hours!! That will discourage anyone else.

They will be paying the landing costs.

[Steely Dan]

Probably an attempted revenge attack for drone activity.

[7by7]

You obviously have not read any of the news reports! Try this one

This was an altercation between a couple of passengers and the crew.

It's happened before, unfortunately it will happen again.

Not a terrorist act, and if the passengers concerned are Muslim, they've not been named yet, that is a pure coincidence.

[Cobalt60]

I wonder what good the typhoon jets were to the situation?

Best guess is shoot it down over the sea if it turns ugly.

Is that the policy now?

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[jbrain]

You obviously have not read any of the news reports! Try this one

This was an altercation between a couple of passengers and the crew.

It's happened before, unfortunately it will happen again.

Not a terrorist act, and if the passengers concerned are Muslim, they've not been named yet, that is a pure coincidence.

Can't believe that one can live in such a state of denial.

From post #5 in this very thread

The group began arguing, and when crew members approached them as it was getting out of control, Shafqat and Ashraf threatened blowing up the plane.

[F430murci]

I wonder what good the typhoon jets were to the situation?

Best guess is shoot it down over the sea if it turns ugly.

Is that the policy now?

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

They tried to gain access to cockpit. I believe shooting down may be the policy if they gained access to cockpit.

[overherebc]

• Believe the intercept plane is only sent up to report directly and to observe if possible cockpit activety

[Carib]

I wonder what good the typhoon jets were to the situation?

Best guess is shoot it down over the sea if it turns ugly.

Is that the policy now?

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

They tried to gain access to cockpit. I believe shooting down may be the policy if they gained access to cockpit.

never mind, redrew posting

Edited May 25, 2013 by Carib

[Maestro]

Somehow I don't think these "British Nationals" have names like that. Just like another couple in London a few days ago.

Reading the newspapers I have come across other occasions of so-called air-rage by British nationals with very British names and by persons with distinctive names of other western countries. Perhaps the names of these two individual will be made public before long and then we shall see and can comment accordingly is so inclined.

[Greer]

Somehow I don't think these "British Nationals" have names like that. Just like another couple in London a few days ago.

Reading the newspapers I have come across other occasions of so-called air-rage by British nationals with very British names and by persons with distinctive names of other western countries. Perhaps the names of these two individual will be made public before long and then we shall see and can comment accordingly is so inclined.

It may be that you didn't read any of the posts before your own... the names and details are available.

[jambco984]

Disgusting behaviour.

Everytime a family argument gets out of hand you need to spit your dummy out and try and kill innocents? Is that what happened here?

[Satcommlee]

They could potentially get life sentences, but in reality they will probably get 6 months to 1 year.

[roamer]

• Believe the intercept plane is only sent up to report directly and to observe if possible cockpit activety

Actually it's up there to ensure the plane follows the directions from Air Traffic Control, in this case divert to Stansted. A diversion from that flight path towards London would result in it being shot down. The UK is a small densely populated island and since 9/11 it has been accepted there has to be a protocol in place to deal with such a scenario. Was told that by my son-in-laws mate at a dinner one evening, he was a Navy Harrier pilot at the time.

[chooka]

Somehow I don't think these "British Nationals" have names like that. Just like another couple in London a few days ago.

Reading the newspapers I have come across other occasions of so-called air-rage by British nationals with very British names and by persons with distinctive names of other western countries. Perhaps the names of these two individual will be made public before long and then we shall see and can comment accordingly is so inclined.

identified as Mohammad Shafqat and Ammara Ashraf