The Typhoon jets were scrambled to reroute Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Flight PK757, after the airline said UK authorities had “received some vague security threat through an anonymous phone call”.

The aircraft had been travelling from Lahore to Heathrow where Metropolitan Police officers were waiting to arrest a passenger in a pre-planned operation.

A decision was made to divert the flight as the aircraft entered UK airspace and the aircraft was intercepted at around 3pm, the Telegraph reports.

This resulted in the plane’s course being changed in accordance with standard security procedures.

Essex police said that the aircraft had been diverted after “reports of a disruptive passenger on board” but added that it was not believed to have been linked to terrorism or a hijacking.

It is unclear who made the alleged threats or whether they were related to the passenger onboard who police intended to arrest.

After the plane landed Stansted Airport tweeted: "We would like to advise our passengers that the airport is open & operating as normal."

https://twitter.com/STN_Airport/status/829001835138707456

A PIA spokesperson said British police had received “vague” security threats from an “anonymous phone call” regarding the aircraft, the Telegraph reports.