Spanish fighter planes have detained an EasyJet flight bound for Menorca after an 18-year-old British tourist allegedly threatened to detonate a bomb during the journey.
Yesterday evening, the adolescent was detained upon arrival to the Mediterranean vacation island, and sniffer dogs and specialized officers boarded the plane for security inspections.
The tourist, who is thought to have traveled on the Gatwick flight with a group of pals, is now subject to a potential fine of thousands of pounds because of the claimed threats.
When flight EZY8303 was about to touch down yesterday shortly before 5 o’clock, the alarm went off.
An 18-year-old British tourist is accused of making a bomb threat on board an EasyJet aircraft to Menorca, prompting Spanish fighter jets to intercept the airplane.
Yesterday evening, specialized officials and sniffer dogs boarded the aircraft for security checks after the teenager was detained upon arrival at the Mediterranean vacation island.
Due to the alleged threats, the tourist, who is thought to have been traveling with a group of pals, might now be subject to a fine of thousands of pounds.
Just before 5 o’clock yesterday, when flight EZY8303 approached the runway, the alarm went off.
The jet was transferred to a location distant from the main terminal and other vehicles after it had landed.
A safe perimeter was established around the jet by other officers, sniffer dogs, bomb disposal specialists, and members of the Civil Guard as part of a special operation that was organized by them.
The passengers were taken off the plane, and established protocol was followed until authorities could prove it was a false bomb threat and the perpetrator was found on social media with five other passengers serving as witnesses.
They were brought to a police station so that authorities could explain the circumstances.
Today, it remained unclear if the nameless adolescent had previously been before a judge in a private court proceeding and where he is right now.
The costs of the police operation and the military jet’s scrambling could be included in the substantial compensation package he will likely receive.
According to police sources, if he were found guilty, he would probably be required to pay for the police operation.
According to reports, passengers were delayed on the tarmac for four hours while the jet was inspected.
The safety and security of passengers and crew are always easyJet’s top priority, and we would like to thank passengers for their understanding, said an easyJet spokeswoman after noting that all passengers had subsequently left.
According to reports, the jet landed yesterday at 4:45 p.m. local time around 30 minutes late.
According to reports, the incident caused a Ryanair jet to depart for London two and a half hours late.
In every fighter intercept, two jets will approach the civilian aircraft from behind.
The first plane will then stay at the tail while the second approaches and speaks with the civilian commander.
Alternatively, if the radios aren’t working, you can signal through the glass if the radios are operating.
The captain of the civilian aircraft will be informed that they have been intercepted and should follow the fighters to the ground by a wing-tip maneuver.
Typically, that entails making a landing at the nearest airfield, which may not be the intended port of arrival, depending on where the intercept occurred along the route.