Three people arrested on a plane about to take off at Heathrow Airport are being held on suspicion of making a bomb threat, police said.
The men - aged 58, 48 and 36 - were arrested on Friday night after armed police boarded an Emirates flight as it was taxiing on the tarmac.
The Metropolitan Police said police were called after a "verbal threat was made to staff".
The force said: "Three men aged 58, 48 and 36 were arrested and are now in police custody. They have been arrested on suspicion of making a bomb threat."
Police are searching the aircraft, which had 331 passengers on board and was bound for Dubai, and it is understood no dangerous substances have been found.
The incident comes amid heightened tension at airports across the world in the wake of the botched Christmas Day bombing.
The threat was made at 9.15pm on the aircraft, which was due to have taken off for Dubai. It is thought the suspects were all British men who were sitting in economy.
Passenger Cameron McLean told Sky News: "Police just swarmed the guy and rushed him out. I think he was a white male. There was another one but I didn't see him."
He said the man was taken out in handcuffs then sniffer dogs were brought on board. The other passengers were eventually taken off the aircraft, and have been put up in a hotel for the night ahead of a rescheduled departure later on Saturday.
A statement from Emirates said: "Following remarks made as Emirates flight EK004 prepared to depart London Heathrow for Dubai, crew alerted the Metropolitan Police who subsequently boarded the aircraft and detained three passengers. The safety and security of all our passengers is paramount. Police are currently assessing the situation and we apologise for the inconvenience to our passengers."
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