Flights diverted as gardaí chase armed robbers

Hundreds of passengers had to be diverted mid- flight over Ireland to allow a Garda helicopter to chase armed robbers yesterday.

Air traffic controllers were forced to clear the flight path into Dublin Airport so airborne gardaí could pursue two men involved in a shopping centre hold-up.

All incoming flights were ordered to go into a “holding pattern” — circling outside the designated zone — while three passenger planes diverted to Shannon to refuel.