Terror on board flight from Dublin to Edinburgh after man claims passengers were armed with knives

SOURCES at the airport later confirmed a note which was passed to cabin crew contained the knifes threat but said the incident wasn’t being treated as terrorism.

A PLANE packed with Scots was at the centre of a terror scare tonight after a passenger claimed people were armed with knives on board.

The man had to be hauled off the Dublin to Edinburgh flight after a note containing the allegation was passed to cabin crew.

Staff on board the Aer Lingus flight at Dublin Airport contacted police who surrounded the plane on the runway before he was removed in front of shocked passengers.

The captain announced the plane was being delayed because of the note.

Sources at the airport later confirmed it contained the knifes threat but said the incident wasn’t being treated as terrorism.

Passenger Peter Munro, from Edinburgh, posted on Twitter: “So a Garda SWAT team just pulled a guy off our Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Edinburgh.

“He was sat right behind me. Fun times.”

A spokesperson for Aer Lingus said: “We can confirm there was a security incident at Dublin airport, on board Aer Lingus Regional flight EI 3258, operated by Stobart Air, en route from Dublin to Edinburgh.

“The matter is being handled by Dublin Airport Police and An Garda Siochana. We have no further comment to make.”

The 7.10pm was delayed for just under an hour and landed in Edinburgh at 8.41pm.

A spokesman for the Dublin Garda police said: “At approximately 6.35pm, Gardaí were called to the scene of an incident on a plane at Dublin Airport.

"A male passenger aged in his 20s was removed from the plane by Gardaí and detained under the Mental Health Act, he has since been admitted to hospital.

"The flight proceeded on its planned journey a short time later. There was no one injured during the incident.”