Breaking news - RAF jets scrambled after disturbance on Pakistan flight

[Brazen]

Pakistan International Airlines flight PK709 flying from Lahore with 297 passengers diverted to Stansted after 'disturbance' aboard.

RAF jets launched to investigate unexpected diversion of Pakistan passenger plane from Manchester to Stansted.

An RAF Typhoon jet has been launched to investigate an incident involving a civilian aircraft in UK airspace, the Ministry of Defence says.

Reports said the aircraft was a Pakistani passenger plane which had been diverted from Manchester to Stansted.

[Valmy]

What sort of disturbance would lead to that?

Hopefully nothing more than just a precaution.

[Brazen]

It's just landed at Stansted. Here's hoping it was just a scuffle over the drinks trolley.

Obviously if it were a flight from Paris no-one would bat an eyelid

[Brazen]

Panic over, it was just a shouty passenger 
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/24/raf-jet-diverted-pakistani-plane

An RAF Typhoon jet has been launched to investigate an incident involving a civilian aircraft in UK airspace, the Ministry of Defence has said.

The plane, which is still in the air, is a Pakistan International Airlines plane with 297 passengers on board, which was flying from Lahore to Manchester, a Manchester Airport spokeswoman said.

The plane – flight number PK709 – had been due to touch down in Manchester at about 2pm on Friday but had been diverted to Stansted airport in Essex, she said.

A spokeswoman for Essex police said: "An incident has occurred on the aircraft and police and partners are responding."

It is understood the incident is not being treated as a terrorist incident and that Essex police are not liaising with counter-terrorism officers.

The Guardian understands that the pilot, concerned about a disruptive passenger who had started shouting, asked to divert to Stansted as a precaution.

It is understood the pilot was then satisfied the incident had been resolved. However the passenger is likely to be escorted off the plane at Stansted.

[Richard Hakluyt]

Do PIA planes even have a drinks trolley?

[Valmy]

Panic over, it was just a shouty passenger 

Ah good.  I was going to guess mentally ill person screaming or something like that but the RAF jets scrambling made it weird.

[Brazen]

Do PIA planes even have a drinks trolley?

I dunno, but American Airlines charging for alcoholic drinks with meals on transatlantic flights are worse than Hitler.

Haven't we all wanted to kick off when only the vegetarian meals are left?

[Richard Hakluyt]

I expect that's what it was, no chicken curry left and not a chance of a G and T, on a long flight too.

[Brazen]

Apparently Stansted airport is the UK's designated counter terrorism airport. Presumably because if anything kicked off in Essex no-one would notice?

[Warspite]

Apparently Stansted airport is the UK's designated counter terrorism airport. Presumably because if anything kicked off in Essex no-one would notice?

I don't know. The Stanstead "Express" is enough to radicalise even the most docile pacifist.

[Richard Hakluyt]

Stansted has a lot of spare capacity and is mainly used for charter flights, probably a sensible choice that is also unlikely to interfere with the travelling of the ruling class.


This is interesting :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Stansted_Airport

Passenger numbers are way below their peak at Stansted.

[Viking]

Stansted has a lot of spare capacity and is mainly used for charter flights, probably a sensible choice that is also unlikely to interfere with the travelling of the ruling class.


This is interesting :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Stansted_Airport

Passenger numbers are way below their peak at Stansted.

Upper Class use Heathrow
Middle Class use Gatwick
Lower Class use Luton
Fuzzy Wuzzies use Stanstead?

[Brazen]

The Nouveau Riche use City.

[Richard Hakluyt]

I used Stansted once, maybe 10 or 15 years ago, I had no idea that Essex could be so remote 

[Brazen]

I used Stansted once, maybe 10 or 15 years ago, I had no idea that Essex could be so remote 

I've sued it a few times, it's actually rather handy for me