Two arrrested after Sri Lankan plane diverted to British airport

A woman pushes a buggy pasty empty check-in desks at Stansted Airport in Essex, eastern England on April 16, 2010. (AFP/File)

LONDON (AFP) – British police arrested two men on suspicion of endangering an aircraft after a Sri Lankan Airlines plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Stansted Airport, officials said Saturday.

The Airbus A330, which was carrying 267 passengers and crew, was due to land at London Heathrow Airport but was diverted to Stansted, eastern England, just after 1830 GMT on Friday, a Stansted spokesman said.

"The aircraft, which was flying from Colombo to Heathrow, landed safely with Essex Police in attendance," the airport spokesman said.

A spokesman for Essex Police added: "Police officers boarded the aircraft and arrested two men on suspicion of endangering an aircraft.

"The passengers have been removed safely. Enquiries are ongoing."

The nationality of the arrested men was not immediately disclosed.

The remaining passengers are being looked after at a reception centre at Stansted and are due to be transferred to Heathrow later Saturday.

Stansted remains open and operating normally, the airport spokesman said.