Aer Arann flight diverted after hoax bomb alert

An Aer Arann flight from Luton to Galway has been diverted to Prestwick airport in Scotland following a hoax bomb alert last night.

Staff on board the plane raised the alarm shortly after take-off, after they found a note claiming there was a bomb on board.

The plane, which was carrying 50 people, landed safely at Prestwick airport, near Glasgow at 11pm. It was escorted to the airport by two RAF tornado jets.

It was the second Irish flight to be forced to land at Prestwick because of bomb alert this week after a Ryanair flight from Beauvais (Paris) to Dublin diverted there on Wednesday. A note claiming a bomb was on board the flight was passed to cabin crew during the flight. The incident was later declared a hoax.