John
01-09-2010, 09:57 AM
Armed officers boarded the Dubai-bound Emirates EK004 flight - which had 331 people inside - on Friday night after air crew alerted police.
Emirates said the incident arose after "remarks" were made as the plane prepared for take-off.
The Metropolitan Police said the three men, aged 58, 48 and 36, had been arrested on suspicion of making a bomb threat.
The incident comes amid heightened tension at airports across the world in the wake of a botched Christmas Day bombing.
Officers are not believed to have found any suspicious substances on the Emirates aircraft - understood to be a Boeing 777 - which had been due to take off at 8pm.
Passenger Cameron McLean told Sky News that armed police took a man off the plane in handcuffs before sniffer dogs were brought in.
He said: "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."
Sky News crime correspondent Martin Brunt said: "It's an indication of how jumpy airlines and anti-terror police are."
Extra bag checks, body searches and on-board regulations have seen travellers in London wait up to three hours before taking off in recent weeks.
Even when they are in the sky, some passengers have been told to remain seated for the final hour of flight time.
The 'final hour' precautions also include no access to bathrooms or overhead lockers and passenger cannot have anything on their laps, including blankets or pillows.
Former London student Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab, 23, earlier made his first public court appearance over charges of trying to ignite a chemical-laden explosive on a US airliner above Detroit.
Authorities say the Nigerian with alleged al Qaeda links was travelling from Amsterdam when he tried to destroy the Northwest Airlines plane carrying nearly 300 people with explosives concealed in his underwear.
Judge Mark Randon entered a not guilty plea for Abdul Mutallab, who could face up to life in prison on the most serious charge - attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction.
Emirates said the incident arose after "remarks" were made as the plane prepared for take-off.
The Metropolitan Police said the three men, aged 58, 48 and 36, had been arrested on suspicion of making a bomb threat.
The incident comes amid heightened tension at airports across the world in the wake of a botched Christmas Day bombing.
Officers are not believed to have found any suspicious substances on the Emirates aircraft - understood to be a Boeing 777 - which had been due to take off at 8pm.
Passenger Cameron McLean told Sky News that armed police took a man off the plane in handcuffs before sniffer dogs were brought in.
He said: "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."
Sky News crime correspondent Martin Brunt said: "It's an indication of how jumpy airlines and anti-terror police are."
Extra bag checks, body searches and on-board regulations have seen travellers in London wait up to three hours before taking off in recent weeks.
Even when they are in the sky, some passengers have been told to remain seated for the final hour of flight time.
The 'final hour' precautions also include no access to bathrooms or overhead lockers and passenger cannot have anything on their laps, including blankets or pillows.
Former London student Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab, 23, earlier made his first public court appearance over charges of trying to ignite a chemical-laden explosive on a US airliner above Detroit.
Authorities say the Nigerian with alleged al Qaeda links was travelling from Amsterdam when he tried to destroy the Northwest Airlines plane carrying nearly 300 people with explosives concealed in his underwear.
Judge Mark Randon entered a not guilty plea for Abdul Mutallab, who could face up to life in prison on the most serious charge - attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction.