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Ryanair Flight Is Escorted by Military Jet to Stansted Airport in U.K. Ryanair Plane Is Escorted by Military Jet to Stansted Airport in U.K.
(35 minutes later)
LONDON — A Royal Air Force fighter jet escorted a Ryanair plane to Stansted Airport, north of London, on Wednesday after the flight from Lithuania was diverted because of a security threat, the airline and the authorities said. LONDON — The Royal Air Force escorted a Ryanair plane to Stansted Airport, north of London, on Wednesday after the flight from Lithuania was diverted because of a security threat that the airline later said was most likely a hoax.
The police said that the plane, which originated in Kaunas, Lithuania, had landed safely around 8:55 a.m., and that passengers had been escorted off the flight. Ryanair later said a “suspected hoax security alert” had been flagged by the Lithuanian authorities. The flight, which originated in Kaunas, Lithuania, landed safely around 8:55 a.m., the police said, and passengers were escorted off the aircraft. Ryanair said a “suspected hoax security alert” had been flagged by the Lithuanian authorities.
Flights were briefly halted, the airport said, but were now “arriving and departing as normal.” Britain has been on edge after a series of terrorist attacks this year, and flights were briefly halted from Stansted on Wednesday, the airport said, but were now “arriving and departing as normal.”
It was not immediately clear why the jet had required a military escort. Loud noises were reported in the Suffolk area of England, but the police said the sounds had come from a military plane.It was not immediately clear why the jet had required a military escort. Loud noises were reported in the Suffolk area of England, but the police said the sounds had come from a military plane.
“We can now confirm that the loud bangs heard across Suffolk this morning was a sonic boom produced by military aircraft,” the police wrote on Twitter. The Royal Air Force confirmed in a statement that it had ordered Typhoon aircraft to intercept a civilian plane, and that the noise had almost certainly come from one of its jets traveling at supersonic speed. The statement said that planes were authorized to fly at such a high speed “for operational reasons,” and added that “any inconvenience caused to local residents is regretted.”
Since the 1970s, Stansted Airport has been the designated facility for receiving flights after security alerts, according to a police press officer. Stansted Airport, which mostly serves low-cost carriers, has been the designated facility since the 1970s for receiving flights after security alerts, according to a police press officer.
London has been on high alert after a string of terrorist attacks. Most recently, in September, 29 people were injured by a bomb on a subway train at the Parsons Green station during the morning rush hour. London has been on high alert after terrorist attacks this year. Most recently, in September, 29 people were injured by a bomb on a subway train at the Parsons Green station during the morning rush hour.
The attack prompted the British authorities to temporarily raise the terrorism threat to the highest possible level, and the police have asked the public to report any suspicious activity.The attack prompted the British authorities to temporarily raise the terrorism threat to the highest possible level, and the police have asked the public to report any suspicious activity.