The Ministry of Defence has acknowledged that RAF Typhoons were dispatched from Lincolnshire to intercept a flight operated by Qatar Airways.
Following a Quick Reaction Alert regarding a passenger plane that was en route from Doha to Manchester Airport, the aircraft took off from RAF Coningsby earlier.
The flight is “causing concern to civil authorities,” according to an RAF official.
“The incident was resolved and the airliner landed safely,” they added.
The flight touched down at 19:45 BST, according to the arrivals board at Manchester Airport.
Following a schoolboy’s fictitious threat on a commercial flight, the RAF scrambled fighter jets, according to authorities.
On Friday night, two Typhoons were sent from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire to intercept a Qatar Airways flight on its route from Doha to Manchester airport.
At 6 p.m., the warplanes were reacting to a threat that Nats, the old National Air Traffic Services, had received. Manchester police were also notified, and armed cops were sent out.
Although the origin of the event was unknown at the time, authorities disclosed on Saturday that the alert was sparked by an alleged hoax call.
It has been determined that a 14-year-old child who was not on the aircraft is “assisting officers with their enquiries.” According to Greater Manchester Police.
“This kind of behaviour is completely unacceptable,” stated Ch Inspector Gary Homa. Every report of this kind is taken very seriously because public safety is always our first priority.
Hoax calls have the potential to seriously disrupt operations, divert critical emergency services resources, and give passengers, crew, and the general public needless anxiety.
Fortunately, this situation ended safely, but fabricating claims can have major repercussions and is not a joke. These kinds of occurrences will always be thoroughly investigated, and when offences have been committed, we will take strong action.
The fighter jets were cancelled before they could intercept the Qatar Airways flight, which touched down in Manchester at approximately 7:45 p.m., according to GMP. There were no injuries.
“We can confirm that an RAF Quick Reaction Alert was launched for a Qatar Airways flight which was causing concern to civil authorities,” an RAF official stated. The aircraft made a safe landing at Manchester airport after the problem was resolved.