RAF escorting passenger airliner to Stansted

Sky are now reporting it was a disruptive passenger - although people are claiming that Air Traffic Control originally referred to it as a bomb threat.
Pretty frustrating for the passengers - so close but so far at the end, and I wouldn't wish a visit to Stansted on anyone!
Now if it really was the case that an individual passenger become disruptive, then I can't help but think it makes taser deployment on airlines a lot more reasonable. Consider a couple of hundred quid on a taser, and a few grand on taser training vs a possible 7 digit figure on fighter jets being deployed, airport disruption, timetable congestion from having the plane at the wrong airport etc..
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What happens when a plane gets escorted. Will it be shot down if the pilot doesn't respond to radio communication?0
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Would be surprised if they've scrambled Typhoons simply for a 'disruptive passenger'4
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Seems a bit strange. I'm sure the pilot knew the way to Stansted! I would imagine they scramble the jets in case they have to shoot the plane down, rather than escort it!0
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This is Trump isn't it?0
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I'd be surprised if there are many places in the UK you could shoot down a jet safely. Stanstead is used because of access points for the security services. If you are on a plane and it's diverted there, you can be pretty sure some tough blokes will be waiting for it on the ground.0
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Very strange, there's no way for a single passenger to gain access to the cockpit, so no situation in which the jets have to shoot it down, and literally nothing they can do in any other way to affect the situation.MuttleyCAFC said:Seems a bit strange. I'm sure the pilot knew the way to Stansted! I would imagine they scramble the jets in case they have to shoot the plane down, rather than escort it!
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get that taser ready stewardess !!!!!1
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I remember trying to follow a thread on there after the missing Malaysian Airlines flight.. I didn't have a clue what those crazy gits were on about!PragueAddick said:For subjects like this, this is the forum to read.
Just don't be tempted to join in :-)0 -
could quite simply be a dickhead on the plane pissed up claiming he has hidden a bomb on the plane or something like that.1
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I think PIA is a dry airline. Could be wrong on that though.palarsehater said:could quite simply be a dickhead on the plane pissed up claiming he has hidden a bomb on the plane or something like that.
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I wouldn't be surprised if it was dry, all things considering.Super_Eddie_Youds said:
I think PIA is a dry airline. Could be wrong on that though.palarsehater said:could quite simply be a dickhead on the plane pissed up claiming he has hidden a bomb on the plane or something like that.
PIA is also claiming that a "vague security threat" was rang through to UK authorities from an anonymous source this morning:
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I got excited when I read escorting!3
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They are.Super_Eddie_Youds said:
I think PIA is a dry airline. Could be wrong on that though.palarsehater said:could quite simply be a dickhead on the plane pissed up claiming he has hidden a bomb on the plane or something like that.
That being said the drunkest I've ever been on a flight was on Royal Brunei which is also "dry" but allows you to bring your own drink on board, but clearly you can't bring alcohol through security so have to buy your booze airside from duty free, queue me buying a 1L bottle of vodka before my six hour flight and proceeding to drink most of it until I fell off the plane in Dubai - whose passport control were not impressed !3 -
Eh.. they deleted the tweet I linked; screenshot attached below.LuckyReds said:
I wouldn't be surprised if it was dry, all things considering.Super_Eddie_Youds said:
I think PIA is a dry airline. Could be wrong on that though.palarsehater said:could quite simply be a dickhead on the plane pissed up claiming he has hidden a bomb on the plane or something like that.
PIA is also claiming that a "vague security threat" was rang through to UK authorities from an anonymous source this morning:
They've since put another - identical looking - one. So I presume it had a typo in.0 -
LuckyReds said:
I wouldn't be surprised if it was dry, all things considering.Super_Eddie_Youds said:
I think PIA is a dry airline. Could be wrong on that though.palarsehater said:could quite simply be a dickhead on the plane pissed up claiming he has hidden a bomb on the plane or something like that.
PIA is also claiming that a "vague security threat" was rang through to UK authorities from an anonymous source this morning:12 -
So not true.randy andy said:
Very strange, there's no way for a single passenger to gain access to the cockpit, so no situation in which the jets have to shoot it down, and literally nothing they can do in any other way to affect the situation.MuttleyCAFC said:Seems a bit strange. I'm sure the pilot knew the way to Stansted! I would imagine they scramble the jets in case they have to shoot the plane down, rather than escort it!
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Stansted is the default airport to redirect planes in any sort of bother. Enough seclusion and space to do what they need without prying eyes......1
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Direct the plane to Croydon and then shoot it down .Super_Eddie_Youds said:I'd be surprised if there are many places in the UK you could shoot down a jet safely. Stanstead is used because of access points for the security services. If you are on a plane and it's diverted there, you can be pretty sure some tough blokes will be waiting for it on the ground.
No loss to intelligent life12 -
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PIA is dry and an awful airline. Old planes but good pilots0
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Samuel Jackson and a load of snakes I heard6
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Somebody beat me to the Trump joke, so my work here is done.1
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Sky are reporting that The Met were waiting at Heathrow to nick a passenger for fraud, apparently they had to rush off to Stansted when they heard the news.
You thought they could've just got someone else to nick him that was already at the airport.1 -
GermanWings flight 9525 would suggest it's not just the single passenger that the Authorities are concerned about.randy andy said:
Very strange, there's no way for a single passenger to gain access to the cockpit, so no situation in which the jets have to shoot it down, and literally nothing they can do in any other way to affect the situation.MuttleyCAFC said:Seems a bit strange. I'm sure the pilot knew the way to Stansted! I would imagine they scramble the jets in case they have to shoot the plane down, rather than escort it!
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quite correct about it being a dry airline these 6 also are;
rayani air.
egypt airlines.
iranair.
royal brunei - doesnt serve but can take your own on board and drink it before landing.
kuwait.
saudi airlines.
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Heard this morning on the radio that the Police were after someone on board who was wanted for fraud and that the escort to Stansted happened due to some phone call from someone on board.1
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Hmmm. Seems like overkill for a fraudster ?!?ForeverAddickted said:Heard this morning on the radio that the Police were after someone on board who was wanted for fraud and that the escort to Stansted happened due to some phone call from someone on board.
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I wonder if that was why there what looked like a fully armed helicopter hovering over the City facing East yesterday lunchtime? Very unusual sight. Anyone else notice?0