Friday, 2 May 2014 00:01
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A British man was today been jailed for three years for endangering an aircraft by making a bomb hoax which resulted in a plane being diverted to Stansted Airport.
Alan Patey, 49, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to making a bomb hoax, the Herts and Essex Observer reported.
It happened while he was on board a Sri Lankan Airlines A330 Airbus which was flying from Sri Lanka to Heathrow on Friday, 20 September.
As a result of his threats, the aircraft had to be diverted to Stansted Airport, causing “inconvenience and distress” to the passengers on board.
Essex Police officers boarded the plane once it had landed and arrested Patey and another 57-year-old man who was later released without charge.
The other passengers had to travel onwards to Heathrow by coach.
Detective Chief Inspector Simon Werrett, senior investigating officer from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “This was a traumatic incident for the pilot, the crew and passengers on flight UL 503 from Sri Lanka to the United Kingdom.
“They not only had to be escorted from the plane for their own safety, but were naturally delayed in reaching their final destination.
“The courage of the pilot and his crew should be highlighted in the calm professional way they dealt with the situation believing there was a device on board. The sentence today reflects the actions of Mr. Patey and should act as a deterrent to others considering similar actions.”
