Two men arrested under the Terrorism Act after fighter jets intercepted a Ryanair flight

Two men have been detained under the Terrorism Act after fighter jets intercepted a Ryanair flight yesterday.

The incident occurred on a plane heading to the UK from Vienna on Sunday night.

Essex police have said a 34-year-old man from Kuwait and a 48-year-old man from Italy were detained at Stansted airport.

In a statement last night, the police said: “Counter-terrorism police officers from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit have arrested two men tonight (Sunday) under Annex 7 of the Terrorism Act (2000).

“Investigations are ongoing.”

The RAF Typhoon jets were called in with armed personnel who allegedly circled the airliner and then got on board after it landed on the runway around 7:20 p.m.

A Ryanair spokesman said the Lauda crew had “alerted to a possible threat to safety on board” during the flight from the Austrian capital.

“In accordance with procedures, the captain informed the UK authorities and continued to London Stansted, where the aircraft landed normally and taxied to a remote post where passengers safely disembarked,” they said.

“Passengers in London Stansted waiting to depart for Vienna were transferred to a spare plane to minimize the delay in their flight.

“This is now a matter for the local police.”

Passenger Joanna Czechowska tweeted that officers boarded and took away two men, in what she described as a “terrifying” incident.

“They told us to put our seat belts back on,” he added.

When the flight landed, the two Typhoons circled the airport.

An RAF spokesman said: “RAF Coningsby Typhoon fighter jets were launched tonight to intercept a civilian aircraft. The aircraft was safely escorted to Stansted.”