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UK fighter jets escorting Pakistan plane after mid-air 'alert'

Fighter jets have escorted the PIA aircraft from Manchester Airport to Stansted Airport

Press Trust of India London
Last Updated : May 24 2013 | 7:18 PM IST
Britain today scrambled its fighter jets to escort a Pakistan International Airlines flight bound for Manchester following a mid-air "security alert".

Fighter jets have escorted the PIA aircraft from Manchester Airport to Stansted Airport, Sky News reported.

There are understood to be 297 passengers on board.

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The plane was heading west towards Manchester when it was suddenly re-routed near York and headed back out to the North Sea, before travelling south to Stansted.

An Essex Police spokeswoman said: "An incident has occurred on an aircraft. Police and partners are responding."

RAF Typhoon jets have been launched to investigate the incident involving a civilian aircraft within UK airspace, BBC quoted the Ministry of Defence as saying.

Media reports said the issue was a "security" incident.

The reports said two RAF fighters were deployed alongside the Boeing 777 to intercept the plane travelling from Lahore to Manchester.

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First Published: May 24 2013 | 7:11 PM IST

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