Plane diverted to Scotland after note threat

An EgyptAir jet heading to New York from Cairo was diverted and landed in Scotland after a passenger found a note in a toilet containing a threat to set the plane on fire, the Egyptian airline told Reuters.

The pilot informed air traffic control on Saturday and landed at Glasgow Prestwick Airport, where the 310 passengers disembarked, Tawfik Assy, chairman of the state-owned airline, said in Cairo.

British Typhoon fighter jets escorted the plane to Glasgow’s Airport, where the flight was met by a heavy police presence. It stayed there for several hours before passengers were able to disembark, at which point officers searched the plane.

A note written in English and reading “This flight will be on fire” was found next to a pencil in one of the plane’s toilets by a woman passenger, Assy said.

Once the crew were made aware, the pilot diverted.

“According to the rules, we have to be on the ground as soon as possible,” Assy said.

Scottish police confirmed the incident.

“At around 1420 BST (1320 GMT) today an Egyptair aircraft … was diverted to Prestwick airport after a suspicious note was discovered on the aircraft,” they said in a statement.

“There are no reports of anyone injured.” No comment was immediately available from the airport but a statement on its website said flights were operating normally after the incident.

Det Superintendent Alan Crawford said there have been no arrests, and that police are working to determine where the note came from, who put it on the plane and under what circumstances.

“This note, whatever narrative it contained, we have to treat it seriously and maintain the safety of passengers and crew,” Crawford said.

“Whether it is a prank or not this will be investigated thoroughly to establish the circumstances. We could never write something off as a prank without investigating.”

Arrangements for onward travel will be made once all passengers have been interviewed, police said.