12 arrested in latest plane scare

A US flight to India had to land at Amsterdam after a security alert on the plan, 12 people have now been arrested.

The pilot of the US passenger plane turned back and landed in the Dutch capital after suspicious behaviour from a number of passengers.

Reports from Reuters suggest that the passengers were not following security procedures and were exchanging mobile phones with each other.

This made other passengers uneasy and flight attendants alerted the pilot, who took the decision to land.

Two Dutch fighter jets escorted the plane into Amsterdam and the airliner is expected to continue with its trip as soon as possible.

Currently the remaining passengers are staying in local hotels.

This is the latest in a series of air incidents affecting US airline companies.

On August 10th UK security services foiled an alleged plot to blow up US planes flying from the UK and the investigation has seen 11 people charged with terrorist offences.

A plane en route to Washington had to be re-routed to Boston after a woman caused a disturbance on board. In addition a US airport was temporarily closed after an explosives scare, which saw another woman questioned.

Both of these instances were later understood not to be related to terrorist activity.