Two men charged after airport security alert
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By Matt Hallam. |  |
Sunday, 10, Jan 2010 10:13
By Sarah Garrod.
Police have confirmed they have charged two men following a security alert at Heathrow airport.
Detectives said Robert George Fowles, 58, of Dover, Kent, has been charged with making a bomb hoax/communicate false information contrary to the Criminal Law Act 1977.
He was also charged with being drunk on an aircraft contrary to the Civil Aviation Act 1982.
Another passenger Alexander Bain McGinn, 48, also of Dover, has also been charged with being drunk on an aircraft.
The Emirates aircraft was taxi-ing to take off on Friday when a verbal threat was made to staff, police said. Armed officers and police entered the plane and arrested three men. The third man involved was released with no further action, police said.
Security at UK airports has been stepped up in the wake of an attempted terrorist attack aboard a Detroit bound plane on Christmas day.
A statement from Emirates following the incident said: "Following remarks made as the EK004 prepared to depart London Heathrow for Dubai yesterday evening (Friday), crew alerted the Metropolitan Police who subsequently boarded the aircraft and detained three passengers.
"All 331 passengers subsequently disembarked as police undertook security precautions. Due to operational restrictions, the flight has been rescheduled and will now depart at 15:00 GMT. Emirates has provided overnight hotel accommodation for the passengers affected.
"The safety and security of all our passengers is paramount. We apologise to the inconvenience to our passengers."