A British Airways flight en route from London to Mexico City was made to turn back on Friday because of “serious concerns” about a passenger on board.
The Boeing 747 was refused entry to US airspace when an official spotted a “data discrepancy” in relation to a male passenger. The aircraft, which was two hours into its journey, was ordered to return to London.
The 55-year-old passenger, who was an US citizen, was searched on arrival and handed over to immigration officials. It is not known whether he was later released.
A BA spokesman said: “BA flight 243 returned to Heathrow on Friday afternoon due to a data discrepancy with a US citizen.”
The incident follows the Christmas Day bomb plot in which London-educated Nigerian Umar Abdulmutallab tried to blow up a US jet en route to Detroit using a syringe and a device strapped to his body.