Kenya Airways plane diverts to Stansted Airport due to 'potential security threat on board'

A plane heading to London Heathrow Airport from Kenya had to be diverted due to an 'alert of a potential security threat on board'

Fighter jets from the Royal Air Force reportedly intercepted the Kenya Airways flight after the alert was raised on Thursday morning. The flight, which took off from Nairobi, was rerouted to London Stanstead where it landed safely on Thursday afternoon.

The alert was said to have been recieved by Kenya Airways at around 10.30am. A spokesperson said: "Kenya Airways PLC (KQ) confirms that on Thursday, October 12, 2023, at around 10.30hours, KQ Headquarters received an alert of a potential security threat on board KQ100 operating from Nairobi to London Heathrow.

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"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. The crew on board were briefed and all safety and security precautions were taken to ensure the safety and security of our crew and passengers.

"The aircraft landed safely at Stansted Airport, London, for security clearance by the UK Government security personnel. The safety and security of our crew and customers is our number one priority."

A London Stansted spokeswoman told the BBC that the aircraft, a Boeing 787, was escorted to a remote parking stand.

A statement from Essex Police said: "We are currently attending an incident at Stansted Airport. A flight travelling from Nairobi to Heathrow was diverted to Stansted this afternoon (Thursday 12 October). The airport remains open."

Stansted is the UK