Pakistan Airlines flight diverted

Blimey it's all happening today. Due to an "incident" onboard.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22658979

Serious enough to scramble fighter escorts too..... What the hell??

I'm so glad I am flying today. 8D

Looking at it on Flightradar it took a very odd route...

Made it to Leeds, turned right and headed to Middlesbrough, down to The Wash and then to Stansted. They certainly didn't seem to be in a hurry to land.

Looking at it on Flightradar it took a very odd route...
Made it to Leeds, turned right and headed to Middlesbrough, down to The Wash and then to Stansted. They certainly didn't seem to be in a hurry to land.

Might be due to the population densities beneath the revised routing as it avoided major towns and cities, including Leeds.

Looking at it on Flightradar it took a very odd route...
Made it to Leeds, turned right and headed to Middlesbrough, down to The Wash and then to Stansted. They certainly didn't seem to be in a hurry to land.

Might be due to the population densities beneath the revised routing as it avoided major towns and cities, including Leeds.

Not sure why they would fly over Middlesbrough / Teesside. You'd think they would want to avoid flying over the large number of chemical plants in the Teesside area (and not forgetting a nuclear power plant at Hartlepool). Though it could mean they could do a quick divert to MME if necessary.

Perhaps the long route was to enable police etc to get themselves organised at Stansted?

Scrambling of the QRF fighters is standard procedure and happens a hell of a lot more than you would ever know or even guess.

As for diverting to Stansted, again standard procedure for a compliant aircraft which has a security incident on board.

So nothing out of the ordinary as to the response, just a bit scary as to why they tried to get into the cockpit

Not sure why they would fly over Middlesbrough / Teesside. You'd think they would want to avoid flying over the large number of chemical plants in the Teesside area (and not forgetting a nuclear power plant at Hartlepool). Though it could mean they could do a quick divert to MME if necessary.
Perhaps the long route was to enable police etc to get themselves organised at Stansted?

The aircraft went out over the North sea south of Whitby i.e. well south of Middlesbrough and Hartlepool.

http://www.flightradar24.com/2013-05-24/13:06/PIA709

and paste PIA709, hit return and click on historical flights for playback for the detailed flight path.

http://avherald.com/h?article=462c0ad4&opt=0

The aircraft went out over the North sea south of Whitby i.e. well south of Middlesbrough and Hartlepool

I didn't say they did, I gave Middlesbrough as a general direction since there aren't many other population centres around there. The point being they headed north and not south, it was a very circuitous route, but as others suggested it might have been until things were prepared on the ground.

I didn't say they did, I gave Middlesbrough as a general direction since there aren't many other population centres around there. The point being they headed north and not south, it was a very circuitous route, but as others suggested it might have been until things were prepared on the ground.

Fuzzy

I know you didn't; it was more a reply to Tonty's posting regarding the industrial areas of Middlesbrough, Teeside and the small matter of the reactor at Hartlepool.

Looking at the flight route, that was very carefully executed and Stansted is one of the two UK airports able to quarantine an aircraft after an 'event'.

Regards

NV

Looking at the flight route, that was very carefully executed and Stansted is one of the two UK airports able to quarantine an aircraft after an 'event'.

Regards

NV

It's cool, I'll be more carefully with my descriptions in future as they got misinterpreted.

I knew about Stansted's status but just out of interest what's the other quarantine airport? I actually thought it was Manchester!

The 2 preferred airports for compliant aircraft with onboard security incidents in the UK are Stansted and Prestwick.

However should the aircraft not be compliant or the captain/ATC feel the aircraft needs to be on the ground ASAP and can't make one of those then the aircraft is landed on the nearest piece of tarmac long enough to accommodate the aircraft.

Is the job of the fighter jets just to monitor the situation from the air?

[Darren Wheeler]

Is the job of the fighter jets just to monitor the situation from the air?

And to shoot down if the circumstances dictate and authorised.

Is the job of the fighter jets just to monitor the situation from the air?

And to shoot down if the circumstances dictate and authorised.

Correct Neil and a very bold decision that would be
Although it is all about minimising risk to more people than necessary

Is the job of the fighter jets just to monitor the situation from the air?

Intercept includes making contact and identifying of the aircraft if the transponders are off, the flight plan is not filed or deviated from (including entry point to UK airspace), is a hazard to other aircraft, or fails to land at the intended destination; if it enters a restricted airspace or is suspected of 'illegal' activities' e.g. smuggling people or goods; 'show of force' e.g. to military aircraft heading towards or attempting to enter UK airspace; communication of intent e.g. 'follow me' if radio contact cannot be achieved using lights, landing gear and positioning, one interceptor in front, one behind.

Shoot down would be the ultimate resort and, I believe , requires PM sanction.

See CAA(UK)Leaflet 11 Intercept Procedures.

I knew about Stansted's status but just out of interest what's the other quarantine airport? I actually thought it was Manchester!

Fuzzy, See chumbas's post, below; Stansted for incoming aircraft from the East and Prestwick for incoming aircraft from the West.

I don't want to p*ss of anybody else today as I think I've already got tontybear's back up..... B)

NV