Man jailed for Stansted bomb hoax
A man has been been jailed after he endangered an aircraft by making a bomb hoax which resulted in a Sri Lankan Airlines flight being diverted to Stansted Airport.
Alan Patey, of no fixed address has been jailed for three years.
The 49-year-old pleaded guilty to making a bomb hoax in court yesterday, reports the Cambridge News.
Mr. Pately made the bomb hoax while on board a Sri Lankan Airlines A330 Airbus which was flying from Sri Lanka to Heathrow on Friday, Septmber 20.
His threats and actions resulted in the aircraft being diverted to Stansted Airport, where Essex police officers boarded the plane and arrested him and another 57-year-old man who was later released without charge.
The other passengers, who were left inconvenienced and distressed, were transferred 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."
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