EasyJet flight from Gatwick to Menorca is intercepted by fighter jets

An easyJet flight to Menorca has been intercepted by Spanish fighter jets after an 18-year-old British holidaymaker allegedly made a bomb threat on board.

The teenager was arrested upon landing in the Mediterranean holiday island yesterday evening and specialist officers and sniffer dogs boarded the aircraft for security checks.

The tourist, who is believed to have been part of a group of friends who boarded the Gatwick flight, now faces a potential fine worth thousands of pounds after the alleged threats.

The alarm was sounded on flight EZY8303 when it approached landing just before 5pm yesterday.

Video footage showed it being escorted by a Spanish Airforce F18 fighter jet before it reached its destination.

An easyJet flight to Menorca has been intercepted by Spanish fighter jets after an 18-year-old British holidaymaker allegedly made a bomb threat on board

The tourist, who is believed to have been part of a group of friends who boarded the Gatwick flight, now faces a potential fine worth thousands 

The fighter ‘tipped’ its wings at the easyJet pilot – a sign which means ‘follow me’ – before escorting the plane to Menorca airport. 

A spokesman for the Civil Guard confirmed today: ‘The Civil Guard has arrested an 18-year-old British national as the alleged author of a crime of public disorder in Mahon in Menorca.

‘Yesterday the control tower at Menorca Airport was alerted to a bomb threat on a plane heading from London to the island capital 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.

‘The Civil Guard organised a special operation which consisted of mobilising bomb disposal experts as well as sniffer dogs and other officers who created a safe perimeter around the plane.

‘The passengers were disembarked and established protocol followed until police were able to 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.’

The alarm was sounded on flight EZY8303 when it approached landing just before 5pm yesterday 

The teenager was arrested upon landing in the Mediterranean holiday island yesterday evening

Specialist sniffer dogs were brought to the plane to check the luggage after the alleged bomb threat

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.

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.

Police sources confirmed he was likely to have to pick up the tab for the police operation if he were convicted.

Passengers were reportedly kept on the tarmac for four hours while the plane was checked out.

An easyJet spokesman said all passengers had since disembarked, adding: ‘The safety and security of passengers and crew is always easyJet’s highest priority and we would like to thank passengers for their understanding.’

The plane is understood to have touched down around half an hour late at 4.45pm local time yesterday.

The incident reportedly led to a Ryanair plane leaving two and half hours late to London.

Passengers were reportedly kept on the tarmac for four hours while the plane was checked out

All fighter intercepts will happen in pairs, with both jets approaching the civilian plane from behind.

One jet will then remain at the tail while a second pulls alongside and communicates with the civilian captain.

This can either be via radio or, in the event the radios are not working, by signalling through the window.

A wing-tip manoeuvre will tell the captain of the civilian aircraft they have been intercepted and should follow the fighters to the ground.

Typically, that will mean landing at the closest airfield available – which may be different to the scheduled port of arrival, depending where along the route the intercept happened. 

• Were you on board the intercepted flight? Email [email protected]