Spanish fighter jet intercepts easyJet plane after teenager bomb hoax

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Spanish fighter jet intercepts easyJet plane after teenager bomb hoax | Secret Flying

British teenager arrested over bomb hoax.

 

An easyjet flight from London to the Spanish island of Menorca on Sunday was escorted to its destination by a Spanish fighter jet after a British teenage passenger made a bomb threat on social media.

 

According to reports, the 18-year-old posted the threat prior to take off, prompting Spanish authorities to scramble fighter jets to intercept the plane.

 

Footage of the incident shows an F-18 jet flying close to the distinctive orange wingtips of the commercial airline’s A-319 aircraft.

 

The fighter jet is seen waggling its wings, a gesture known in aviation as indicating the other pilot should follow him, while worried passengers can be heard discussing what is happening, with one woman asking: “Why is it doing that, is it just showing off?”

 

 

The flight landed safely, with passengers being required to identify themselves and verify their luggage on arrival.

 

The teenager, who was travelling with five friends, was arrested and spent the night in jail. He was released on €10,000 bail the next day.

 

A judicial source said: ‘The investigating judge in charge of Mahon Court of Instruction number two has released on €10,000 bail the young man arrested over a false bomb alert on the plane that landed on Sunday in Menorca.

 

‘The judge has confiscated his passport, banned him from leaving Spain and told him to report periodically to court.’

 

Spanish media said the man could face a bill running into the thousands on top of his bail to cover the scrambling of the fighter jet and the police operation involving the mobilisation of specialist officers and sniffer dogs to check out the aircraft.

 

In a statement, the airline said: “easyJet can confirm flight EZY8303 from London Gatwick to Menorca on 3 July was escorted by military aircraft while landing in Menorca and delayed disembarking due to precautionary security checks.

 

“The safety and security of its passengers and crew is always easyJet’s highest priority and we would like to thank passengers for their understanding.”