An easyJet flight to Menorca was intercepted by Spanish fighter jets yesterday (Sunday) after an 18-year-old British passenger allegedly made a bomb threat on board. The teenager was arrested upon landing at Mahon airport yesterday evening, and specialist officers and sniffer dogs boarded the plane for security checks before anyone was allowed to disembark, meaning passengers had to stay on the plane for a further 4 hours until given the all-clear.
The unnamed British tourist, who is believed to have been part of a group of friends who boarded the Gatwick flight, now faces a potential fine of thousands of pounds after the alleged threats.
According to the Guardia Civil, the alarm was raised on flight EZY8303 when it was approaching Menorca just before5pm yesterday. Videos and photos from passengers show it being escorted by a Spanish Airforce F-18 fighter jet before it reached its destination.
The F-18 'tipped' its wings at the easyJet pilot, a sign which means 'follow me', before escorting the plane to Menorca airport. A spokesman for the Guardia Civil confirmed today: “We have arrested an 18-year-old British national as the alleged author of a crime of public disorder in Mahon in Menorca.”
@easyJet #a319 G-EZAO intercepted by Spanish Air Force on way to Menorca. passengers not being allowed to leave yet. @BigJetTVLIVE @BBCNews @SkyNews @SkyNewsBreak pic.twitter.com/MTWkQnU39x
— Ian Leslie ❤️🇺🇦❤️ (@iandrleslie) July 3, 2022
“Yesterday the control tower at Menorca Airport was alerted to a bomb threat on a plane heading from London to Mahon, which was still in the air and nearing the airport. The threat was said to have been sent on a social media platform.”
“Once the plane landed it was taken to an area away from the main terminal and other aircraft, and a special operation, which consisted of mobilising bomb disposal experts as well as sniffer dogs and other officers, which created a safe perimeter around the plane.”
“The passengers were disembarked and protocol was followed until police could confirm it was a false bomb threat and the person responsible was identified on social media along with five other companions as witnesses. They were taken to a police station so officers could clarify the situation.”
It was not immediately clear today if the unnamed teenager has already appeared before a judge in a closed court hearing and where he is now, but he is expected to face a large compensation bill which could include the costs of the police operation and the scrambling of the military jet.
