Manchester Police have arrested a man on suspicion of making a hoax bomb threat after a plane was escorted into the city's airport by an RAF fighter jet.
The emergency came when the pilot of Qatar Airways flight QR23 from Doha to Manchester reported concerns about a possible device. It landed safely.
Josh Hartley, who boarded the plane at Doha, said: "The flight was pretty calm all the way through, but some people are shaken up, quite a few. It was scary.
A man is escorted of the Qatar Airways flight by police in Manchester "One guy has been escorted off the plane already but we're still on it. We've heard nothing yet."
The alarm is thought to have been raised when a passenger passed a note to a member of the cabin crew.
The message is understood to have been passed on to the captain, who alerted air traffic control - prompting the quick reaction alert Typhoon to be scrambled.
In a statement Qatar Airways said the plane was an Airbus A330-300 with 269 passengers and 13 Qatar Airways crew on board.
Qatar Airways flight QR23 on the ground at Manchester Airport The airline said: "The crew onboard had received a threat about a possible device on board and Qatar Airways immediately took all the necessary precautions to alert British authorities.
"The crew is now fully assisting police at the airport with their inquiries.
"The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew is our top priority."
Greater Manchester Police tweeted that officers were working to get other passengers off "as swiftly and safely as possible".
Passenger @MattPeterC took this picture from the plane "The plane has been moved to allow specialist officers who are dealing with the incident to board," said another tweet.
Chief Superintendent John O'Hare said in a statement as events unfolded: "An incoming plane has been escorted into the airport by the Royal Air Force as a result of information received by the pilot about a possible device on board.
"We don't know how genuine this threat is but it is absolutely vital we deal with the situation as a full emergency.
"As a result people will see the police and other agencies at the airport and on the airfield.
The RAF Typhoon escorts the Qatar Airways flight. Pic @Josh Hartley "At this time I would urge them not to be alarmed.
"Our response will be as comprehensive as it is proportionate with the safety of those on board and in and around the airport our paramount concern."
Eye witness Paul Bell, who is heading for a holiday flight due to leave from the airport's Terminal 1, told Sky News his family saw the drama unfold as they were heading to the airport.
"We heard the fighter jet circling over Stockport and about 10 minutes later we saw the aircraft coming in.
The airport lies south of the city centre "It was literally looping round the aeroplane."
Manchester Airport said nine incoming flights had to be diverted to other airports, with five of these landing at Leeds Bradford airport.
"There are a few minor delays to outgoing flights but we're pretty much back to normal," said an airport spokesman.
An RAF spokesman said: "We can confirm that Typhoon aircraft were launched from RAF Coningsby in their quick reaction alert role this afternoon to investigate a civilian aircraft whose pilot had requested assistance."
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