Fire on Monarch plane 'started deliberately by passenger'

Two small fires which broke out on a Monarch plane are believed to have been started deliberately by a passenger.

West Midlands Police have launched an inquiry into the incidents on a Monarch service from Birmingham Airport to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt.

The force said no-one was hurt as both blazes were contained and extinguished by staff on board the flight on Thursday August 27.

A police spokesman said: "Officers from the Airport Policing Unit continue to investigate the circumstances around the incidents.

"At present no arrests have been made but our inquiries are still ongoing."

In a statement, Monarch Airlines said local police were in attendance when flight ZB472, an Airbus A321 carrying 201 passengers and seven crew, touched down in Egypt.

"UK authorities have been notified and are dealing with the matter. As the alleged incident is the subject of a police investigation, we are not in a position to comment further," the airline said.