RAF fighter jets are escorting a Pakistan Interntional Airlines PIA  aircraft from Manchester Airport into Stansted Airport.

The airline has confirmed it is for security reasons. There are understood to be 297 passengers on board.

Sources said the fighters are now alongside the 777 plane over the skies of Britain.

The Sun understands two jets – possibly from RAF Marham – were scrambled to intercept the liner travelling from Lahore, Pakistan to Manchester.

Now the plane has been redirected to London Stansted.

“Typhoon aircraft from RAF Coningsby were launched today to investigate an incident involving a civilian aircraft within UK airspace; further details wil be provided when known.”

It follows the murder of a British soldier this week by Muslim fanatics. An airline official was quoted as saying the issue was a “security” incident.

The plane was heading west towards Manchester when it was suddenly re-routed near York and headed back out to the North Sea, before travelling south to Stansted.

It has now landed at the airport.

An Essex Police spokeswoman said: “An incident has occurred on an aircraft. Police and partners are responding.”

The airline does not have contact with the pilot, it has told .

The media correspodents says: “It is potentially precautionary, it doesn’t necessarily mean there is a direct or real treat. Sometimes this might happen simply because of an incident on board involving a single passenger.

“It would be wrong at the moment to draw any conclusions but an incident nonetheless that the military feel is necessary to carry out this operation to make sure that plane lands safely at Stansted Airport.”

The aircraft is understood to be being held in an isolated stand at Stansted, but the airport is operating as normal.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “A Typhoon aircraft has been launched to investigate an incident involving a civilian aircraft within UK airspace.”

He added that the Typhoon is from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

Pakistan International Airlines said the plane had landed safely at Stansted, but they do not have communications with the pilot.

British police have arrested two men on a Pakistan Airlines airplane after RAF Typhoon fighter jets escorted it from Manchester Airport to Stansted Airport near London. The plane was carrying 297 passengers from Lahore when it was rerouted.

The plane has now landed at Stansted and the airline has confirmed the emergency landing was for security reasons but there have been no communications with the pilot of the plane.

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