'I'll set this plane on fire' passengers being questioned

[Anthea]

BBC News

An Egyptair plane from Cairo to New York has landed at Glasgow Prestwick Airport after being diverted.

BBC New York producer Nada Tawfik, a passenger on board, found a note in the plane's toilet with the words 'I'll set this plane on fire'.

The Boeing 777 - which was travelling to JFK International Airport - touched down at 14:30 BST.

Air traffic control said action was taken following "a problem", and that standard procedure had been followed.

An eyewitness told the BBC that he saw two RAF fighter jets escort the plane into the airport, in Ayrshire.

He said there were about half a dozen police vehicles surrounding the aircraft.

The plane has been moved to an isolated part of the airport, away from the passenger terminal.

Police Scotland confirmed it deployed officers and that they were responding to an ongoing incident.

It is not known how many people are on board the plane, although they are still inside.

A statement on the airport's website said it was currently dealing with an incident.

It added that there was no disruption to flights, which were operating as normal.

The A79 is closed in both directions between the B739 Station Road junction and the Shawfarm Road junction.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22920907

[Anthea]

BBC News

Plane diverted to Glasgow Prestwick Airport after fire note

[img]news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/imahttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22920542ges/68197000/jpg/_68197372_david.singleton.jpg[/img]

BBC producer Nada Tawfik, a passenger on board, said she saw a note with the words "I'll set this plane on fire" and a seat number.

Egypt Air flight 985 - which was travelling to JFK International Airport - touched down at around 14:30 BST.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that RAF Typhoon aircraft were called following an "incident on board".

Det Supt Alan Crawford, of Police Scotland, said he would not speculate on whether the threat in the note was credible.

He said the plane's captain and crew decided to divert from their normal flight path after seeing the note.

An eyewitness told the BBC he saw the two fighter jets escort the Boeing 777 into the airport in Ayrshire.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed in a statement that Typhoon aircraft were called from RAF Leuchars and that "a passenger aircraft was diverted following an incident on board."

The aircraft was carrying 326 passengers who were allowed to start to disembark three hours after the plane landed.

Police have been carrying out interviews with them.
'Pretty tense'

Ms Tawfik, who was travelling with her daughter, who was under two years old, said she saw the note, which was written on a napkin with a pencil.

"It almost looked like a child's handwriting or someone who has very sloppy handwriting, but it was very alarming especially these days when everyone is so concerned about safety on flights," she said.

She said it had been "very scary" and that the incident had created a tense situation on the flight, with passengers growing concerned - especially those with babies.

The plane has been moved to an isolated part of the airport, away from the passenger terminal.

Police Scotland confirmed a suspicious note had been found on the plane and that they would interview all passengers on board.

A spokeswoman said: "At around 1420 hours today an Egyptair aircraft flying from Cairo to New York was diverted to Prestwick Airport after a suspicious note was discovered on the aircraft.

"There are no reports of anyone injured."

A statement on the airport's website said there were no disruption to flights, which were operating as normal.

Link & Video:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22920907