#Two plane passengers arrested amid ‘security threat’ after UK jets scrambled

Two passengers aboard a Ryanair flight from Vienna to London have been arrested by British counterterrorism police after two fighter jets were scrambled to intercept the plane due to a “potential security threat,” according to a report.

The two men – a 34-year-old from Kuwait and a 48-year-old from Italy – were arrested Sunday night when the airliner landed at London Stansted Airport amid reports that suspicious items had been found in the toilets, the Independent reported.

“Counter Terrorism Policing officers from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit have this evening (Sunday) detained two men under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act (2000),” police said in a statement.

“Enquiries are ongoing,” it added.

The Royal Air Force said it had launched two Typhoon jets from a base in Lincolnshire to intercept the aircraft.

A Ryanair rep said the crew had been alerted to a “potential security threat on board.”

“In line with procedures, the captain informed UK authorities and continued to London Stansted, where the aircraft landed normally and taxied to a remote stand where passengers disembarked safely,” the spokesperson said.

“Passengers in London Stansted waiting to depart to Vienna were transferred to a spare aircraft to minimize the delay to their flight.”