Two men have been arrested on suspicion of endangerment of an aircraft after RAF Typhoon jets were scrambled to escort a passenger plane over the UK.

Police boarded Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK709, originally en route to Manchester from Lahore, after it was diverted to Stansted.

The men being held are aged 30 and 41, Essex Police said.

Passengers said they had heard threats had been made on board, but there has not been any official confirmation.

News CLICKY

Now I know Stanstead is the preferred airport for that sort of thing, but looking at the map, surely they were so close to Manchester they should have landed there instead. Less time in the air and less hassle for the passengers given that was their destination anyway.