British warplanes were scrambled early today as a precaution after a conversation between two passengers a flight from Baltimore to London's Heathrow airport.
"Flight BA288 was met by police officers who questioned two male passengers regarding a conversation that was overheard by another passenger," a British Airways (BA) spokeswoman said.
"Both men have since been allowed to go on their way," she added. She declined to reveal the nature or content of the overheard conversation or the nationality of the two passengers.
A British Ministry of Defence spokesman said it was the first time since the September 11th, 2001, attacks that Royal Air Force jets had been sent up to meet an incoming airliner.
Police said the incident, which lasted roughly an hour, had triggered a precautionary contingency plan. They confirmed there had been no arrests.