‘suspicious device’ on passenger plane found to be mobile phone
suspicious device on passenger plane found to be mobile phone
‘suspicious device’ – A 34-year-old man from Kuwait and a 48-year-old man from Italy were held but did not commit any offences, police say.
Two men have been released from police custody after a suspicious device found in the bathroom of a passenger plane was found to be a mobile phone.
Typhoon jets were scrambled to intercept the Ryanair flight from Vienna to London on Sunday after the object sparked concern.
The pair – a 34-year-old man from Kuwait and a 48-year-old man from Italy – were detained at Stansted Airport shortly after 7 pm under the Terrorism Act.
They have been released without charge after officers from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) found neither had committed any offence.
An ERSOU spokesperson confirmed the “suspicious” object was a mobile phone.
Detective Superintendent Andy Waldie, head of ERSOU’s counter terrorism policing unit, said: “We understandably take any reports of suspicious objects or behaviour on flights very seriously and thankfully on this occasion there was no cause for concern.
“I’d like to thank those on the flight for their cooperation and understanding while officers conducted their enquiries.”
