Plane bomb threat... And the point was?

[therealjr]

Apparently a Qatar airways flight was subject to a bomb threat by a passenger. So they scrambled an RAF Typhoon fighter to intercept it. Which rather begs the question exactly what was it supposed to do? Shoot it down over somewhere quiet before it blew up over a big city?

[Big Dave]

We were asking the same question whilst watching the TV report this morning. I suppose the answer is 'top secret'.

[Old Cruser]

Same here Dave, we couldn't see what the point of this exercise was either.
I believe the person who made the threat has mental health problems

[Alsatian]

Got us flummoxed too! 

[Fly]

Basically yes JR, I think that is the answer. If the people flying the liner don't answer or follow commands, it get's shot down.

[Old Cruser]

Seems a strange response, never known it before has anyone else.
Must have been really scary for the passengers and crew - not much comfort knowing that either way you may be blown up if that was the intention!

[Fly]

Plenty to read here. Apparently the fighter pilots are trained forn this event.

https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?tab=ww&ei=lh2nU72zO8TBhAfKj4CwCg&ved=0CAgQqS4oBQ#q=why+send+a+typhoon+jet+to+a+hijacked+air+liner

[Scimitar]

Saw an interview with a commercial pilot - Quatar followed exactly the protocol in this situation. The typhoon was there to monitor the aircraft & ensure it held it's correct flight path, or any changes to it, for example if it was hijacked. I suppose however if it was being flown as a "weapon" to a target, I dread to think of the potential outcome, furthermore the potential instructions to the fighter pilot.Its a standard response from the RAF to flank aircraft with coded messages from flight crew.
A good job done all round from the flight crew, RAF, & Manchester airport. Shame about the nutter