Three people arrested on a plane about to take off at Heathrow Airport were being held today on suspicion of making a bomb threat, police said.
The men - aged 58, 48 and 36 - were arrested last night after armed police boarded an Emirates flight as it was taxiing on the tarmac.
The Metropolitan Police said police were called after a “verbal threat was made to staff”.
“Three men aged 58, 48 and 36 were arrested and are now in police custody,” the force said.
“They have been arrested on suspicion of making a bomb threat.”
Police are searching the aircraft, which had 331 passengers on board, and it is understood no dangerous substances have been found.
The incident comes amid heightened tension at airports across the world in the wake of the botched Christmas Day bombing.
PA