A pair of men have been released without charge after a Ryanair flight was intercepted by RAF fighter jets.
Shortly after 7pm yesterday evening the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit received reports there was a suspicious package in the bathroom of a passenger jet.
An RAF Typhoon intercepted the plane as it headed in to land at Stansted Airport having flown from Vienna.
A 34-year-old from Kuwait and a 48-year-old from Italy were detained by counter-terrorism officers once the plane had landed, the unit said in a statement.
They were detained under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act.
They have since been released after a "suspicious device" in the plane's bathroom was "found not to be of concern".
It turned out that the package was a harmless mobile phone.
In a statement the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit said: "Officers investigating reports of a suspicious device on a flight landing at London Stansted Airport on Sunday have concluded their inquiries.
"Following reports of a suspicious device in the bathroom of a plane arriving from Vienna, Austria, shortly after 7pm, Counter Terrorism Policing officers from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit detained two men under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act (2000).
"After examination by specialist investigators, the object was found not to be of concern. Officers spoke with the two men and neither were considered to have committed any offences."
Detective Superintendent Andy Waldie added: "We understandably take any reports of suspicious objects or behaviour on flights very seriously and thankfully on this occasion there was no cause for concern.
"I'd like to thank those on the flight for their cooperation and understanding while officers conducted their inquiries."
