Man held over 'suspicious device'

23 March 2009 07:11am

A man is being questioned over his involvement in a bomb hoax after a report of a "suspicious device" on board a plane.

Police were alerted at 6.48am on Sunday after a passenger found a note implying there could be a suspicious device on board the Emirates flight EK011 from Dubai.

The Boeing 777 aircraft landed safely at Gatwick Airport and all 164 passengers and 18 crew were evacuated.

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit worked alongside officers to search the aircraft and luggage.

Sussex Police said a man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of involvement in a bomb hoax following the incident.

A BAA spokeswoman said the airport was closed to inbound and outbound aircraft for 15 minutes, while the plane was transferred to a remote area of the airport as part of the standard operating procedures.

It reopened shortly afterwards and there was no major disruption, she added.

Chief Inspector Ed Henriet of Sussex Police said: "This was potentially an extremely serious situation and we immediately mounted an emergency response. At all times public safety was the key priority. All the agencies worked together to provide a co-ordinated response and minimise disruption and the airport operated as normal during this time.

"We are very grateful for the calm and understanding response from those directly affected, including the passengers who were on board and those waiting to meet them."

Sussex Police co-ordinated the response from Gatwick police station in co-operation with staff from BAA Gatwick, Surrey Police, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and the South East Coast Ambulance Service.

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