UK Scrambles Air Force to Land Etihad Plane After Threats - Bloomberg

A man was arrested today after an Etihad Airways flight travelling from Abu Dhabi to London's Heathrow Airport was redirected when a passenger began making threats.

Two Royal Air Force Typhoon jets were scrambled to accompany the airliner as it landed around noon at Stansted Airport, north of London. A 37-year-old British national was arrested at Stansted, Prime Minister David Cameron's spokesman Steve Field told reporters in London, citing Essex Police.

"The pilot reported a passenger causing disruption and making threats," Field said. "No one has been injured and the airport has been operating normally."

The passenger was "disruptive and made inappropriate comments," Lisa Taylor, a spokeswoman for Etihad Airways, said by telephone. "There was no threat to the safety of the passengers."

A Ministry of Defense spokesman, speaking on the usual custom of anonymity, said that Typhoon aircraft were launched this morning to escort a passenger aircraft due to an incident on board.

To contact the reporter on this story: Kitty Donaldson in London at kdonaldson1@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Hertling at jhertling@bloomberg.net.