NO suspicious items have yet been recovered on a plane which was diverted to Stansted Airport under military aircraft escort, police have said.

Earlier today (Friday) two men aged 30 and 41, both British nationals, were arrested on suspicion of endangerment of an aircraft and taken to a police station for questioning by detectives.

At around 1.20pm officers were notified that a threat had been made to the safety of an aircraft – a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Boeing 777 which was flying from Lahore to Manchester and carrying 297 people.

The plane was diverted to Stansted Airport and an RAF Typhoon escorted it until the jet landed at 2.15pm.

Once it had been directed to a safe location, police officers boarded the aircraft and arrested two suspects.

The rest of the passengers were allowed to disembark the plane under police escort and placed on airport coaches to be taken to the terminal building for debriefing.

A PIA spokesman confirmed all passengers on board were safe.

Police said the plane will remain at its current location and will be subject to forensic examination by specialist officers.

Superintendent Darrin Tomkins, of Essex Police, said: “At this point in time no suspicious items have been recovered. This incident is being treated as a criminal offence and remains under the direction of Essex Police.

“As two men are in custody, and have yet to be questioned, it would be inappropriate for us to comment in further detail on the incident at this time.”

Flights at Stansted airport are operating as normal.

Any relatives who have concerns about family who they believe were on the flight have been asked to call either 0800 096 1233 or 0207 158 0197.