RAF fighter jets escort Kenya Airways flight to Stansted Airport over security alert

RAF fighter jets escorted an aircraft from Kenya into Stansted Airport after a security alert.

A Kenya Airways Boeing 787 was diverted into the Essex airport just before 3.45pm, a spomesman confirmed.

The plane - which was en route from Nairobi to London Heathrow - landed safely and was escorted to a remote stand, he added.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing bomb disposal teams arrive at the airport.

A spokesman for Stansted Airport said shortly before 5pm that the incident had been stood down, and Essex Police confirmed that its "officers carried out inquiries and established there was nothing of concern on board".

Kenya Airways said its headquarters had "received an alert of a potential security alert on board KQ100" from Nairobi to Heathrow.

"KQ management, in conjunction with the security authorities of the Government of Kenya and the United Kingdom carried out a thorough risk assessment of the threat," it said in a statement.

"The crew onboard were briefed, and all safety and security precautions were taken to ensure the safety and security of our crews and passengers onboard."

Flight KQ100 was due to take off from the Kenyan capital at 9.05am and land at Heathrow at 4.15pm.

Essex Police were also called to the scene.

A spokesperson said earlier: "We are currently attending an incident at Stansted Airport.

"A flight travelling from Nairobi to Heathrow was diverted to Stansted this afternoon."

The Stansted spokesman said the airport was open and flights were operating as normal.

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