Armed police have boarded a plane at Heathrow – incident on the EK004 flight to Dubai.
Breaking News
11:38pm UK, Friday January 08, 2010
Cops Board Heathrow Jet After ‘Verbal Threat’Ian Collier, Sky News Online
Armed police have boarded a plane at Heathrow airport and are believed to have arrested two men after a “verbal threat”, according to reports.Passenger Cameron McLean said: “Police just swarmed the guy and rushed him out.
“I think he was a white male. There was another one but I didn’t see him.”
He said the man was taken out in handcuffs then sniffer dogs were brought on board.
An airport spokesman said: “I can confirm there has been an incident on the EK004 flight to Dubai.
“Police are attending. It’s not affecting the rest of the airport which remains opens.”
Sky’s crime correspondent Martin Brunt said: “A verbal threat of some description was made. It was overheard. It was reported to members of the crew.
“They were understandably very concerned.
“They stopped the plane. The plane was taken back to some part of Heathrow, at which point anti-terror police boarded the plane.
“I think, at the moment, this was just a verbal threat but, of course, an investigation ensues until police are satisfied.
“It’s an indication of how jumpy airlines and anti-terror police are.”
further links:- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8449696.stm
By: G-BIKI - 12th January 2010 at 11:23
The goon squads justifying their existence …
I wonder if the plane had taken off and you had been on board what you would have thought then.
When working for EHAM airport security I have on several occasions stopped drunk pax passing through security and informed airport police & the airline. Remember that at fll 30+ there is no point calling for a policeman or your mother either……
A good job done by all on this occasion.
Problem is that our “permissive society” allows all kinds of imbiciles to think that making stupid threats is funny.
By: Yippekaya - 11th January 2010 at 18:26
I’m just off EK28 GLA to DXB and 2 passengers had to be restrained mid flight over Iraq due to their drunken behaviour and they were met by UAE police on arrival in Dubai.
According to another passenger these individuals were clearly under the influence before boarding, so I think Emirates have to review their boarding procedures with regards to assessing passenger’s fitness to fly.
By: Fieldhawk - 10th January 2010 at 16:53
Well done ATC, well done the cabin and flight deck crews. I hear that two have now been charged by the police. If found guilty I hope that the book is thrown at them (and maybe it will act as a deterrent to other would be’s) and that they are made to compensate in full the airline, the other passengers and all concerned. I have absolutely no time for such people. And I have worked in aviation for a very long time. Oh yes, ban them for ever from going near any aircraft.
By: Arabella-Cox - 9th January 2010 at 22:15
No, you did the right thing matey. Airport security should not allow drunk passengers on airplanes. They can do as much damage as a drunk pilot. If their judgement was compromised to the extent that they made bomb threats, they must have been pretty much under the weather. We all have a couple of pints (or more) now and then, but people should be made aware that there is a time and place for everything. The other point is that people do make assumptions based on news reports. Where did the reporter get his information? And how do you stop reporters publishing BS? 
By: Gonzo - 9th January 2010 at 21:02
Yes, I was in the tower at the time, I’d just transferred the UAE4 to Air Departures. Flight crew informed us of a security issue; they took it seriously, we took it seriously, and we attempted to ensure as good an outcome as possible for the greatest number of people.
I didn’t slag anyone off.
Please do let me know what any one of you would do if you were an air traffic controller and a pilot of an aircraft carrying 300 passengers tells you that there’s someone down the back who is threatening the safety of the aircraft…..
Yeah, I’m sure you’d all sit back, put your feet up and assume it was a hoax. 😎
By: PMN - 9th January 2010 at 17:38
Homeward bound flight after a rugby international?
No no, me and sport don’t get on! Just general flights, I’ve probably only been entirely sober for about 100 of them. :diablo:
By: Arabella-Cox - 9th January 2010 at 17:30
In all fairness I’m living proof that actually isn’t the case. 😀
Paul
Homeward bound flight after a rugby international?
By: PMN - 9th January 2010 at 17:02
I was under the impression that drunk passengers were not allowed to board an aircraft?
In all fairness I’m living proof that actually isn’t the case. 😀
Paul
By: Skymonster - 9th January 2010 at 16:55
Thankfully those of us involved took it seriously.
If you were there, then maybe you’d like to tell us what it was about, rather than just slagging off someone else
By: Arabella-Cox - 9th January 2010 at 16:43
Yet again someone who wasn’t there basing assumptions on news reports. :rolleyes:
Thankfully those of us involved took it seriously.
You were there?
By: Distiller - 9th January 2010 at 16:12
Yet again someone who wasn’t there basing assumptions on news reports. :rolleyes:
Thankfully those of us involved took it seriously.
Happily making my assumptions when reading such news. In 95% of cases it’s actionism. About the really important stuff you won’t read in the media, or at least not within half a year!
By: Gonzo - 9th January 2010 at 16:00
The goon squads justifying their existence …
Yet again someone who wasn’t there basing assumptions on news reports. :rolleyes:
Thankfully those of us involved took it seriously.
By: Distiller - 9th January 2010 at 09:10
The goon squads justifying their existence …
By: Arabella-Cox - 9th January 2010 at 08:59
I was under the impression that drunk passengers were not allowed to board an aircraft? They must have been quite drunk to act like that without considering the consequences. And pretty soon, the way things are going right now, they will ban alcohol at airports and on flights. 😡
By: Newforest - 9th January 2010 at 08:08
The three ‘suspects’ are aged 36, 48 and 58! They deserve what they are going to get (if guilty).
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/01/09/heathrow.airport.incident/index.html
By: Rickt - 9th January 2010 at 00:02
Listening to the reports on TV from sky news, reports seem to suggest 2 or 3 english (British young males) have been arrested, possibility of excess alcohol related.
Hopefully.. it was just some idiot(s) making a silly comment and nothing more sinister.
Reports state PAX are now leaving the aircraft after 4 hours stood on taxi way – EK004 was due out @ 20:00
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January 8, 2010 at 11:44 pm