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Same plane involved in bomb scare in 2011
An MoD spokesman said the incident was now a police matter and "our involvement is over".
He said Typhoon jets can be scrambled after the pilot or crew of a passenger aircraft sends out an emergency signal.
"The purpose of going up is to investigate what the situation is," he said. "Often when a Quick Reaction Alert aircraft is launched the details are not known, but it is known that a signal has been sent. Part of the purpose of sending a Typhoon up is to have a look and see what they can see."
The very same plane on the very same flight - from Lahore to Manchester - had been diverted to Stansted on September 7 2011 due to a bomb scare.
Incident happened around 10 minutes before landing
Essex Police said the plane, which had departed from Lahore, has landed at Stansted.
It is understood the incident happened around 10 minutes before the plane, flight number PK709, was due to land in Manchester at 2pm.
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PIA plane carrying '297 passengers'
The Pakistan International Airlines plane that has been diverted from Manchester Airport to Stansted is carrying 297 passengers, Reuters reported.
Police: Plane diverted to Stansted has landed
Essex Police has confirmed the plane diverted to Stansted Airport has now landed:
The plane diverted to Stansted Airport has now landed at the airport. Police + partners are continuing to respond.
From @EssexPoliceUK on Twitter:Stansted is UK's designated counter terrorism airport
Two RAF Typhoon jets are escorting a passenger plane from Pakistan to Stansted airport - the UK's designated counter terrorism airport
From @chrisshipitv on Twitter:RAF Typhoon jet scrambled from Coningsby
by Lucy Manning - UK EditorThe RAF has confirmed that one of its Typhoon jets was scrambled from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire in order to divert a passenger jet from Manchester Airport.
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Flight tracker shows apparent diversion of PIA flight
A Pakistan International Airlines passenger flight has been diverted from Manchester Airport to Stansted. No reason has been given so far.
This flight tracker appears to show flight PIA709 moving dramatically off its course and heading south towards London.
Essex Police responding after 'incident' on plane
Essex Police said its officers are responding after "an incident" occurred on a plane:
An incident has occurred on an aircraft. Police + partners are responding + a further updated will be released asap
From @EssexPoliceUK on Twitter:No further details were given.
Pakistan International Airlines plane diverted to Stansted
An RAF Typhoon jet has been launched to investigate an incident involving a civilian aircraft in UK airspace, the Ministry of Defence said today. Reports said the aircraft is a Pakistani passenger plane which has been diverted from Manchester to Stansted.
The aircraft, which is still in the air, is a Pakistan International Airlines passenger plane which was flying from Pakistan to Manchester, a Manchester Airport spokesman said.
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