An RAF Typhoon fighter was scrambled to escort a plane into Manchester Airport "as a result of information received by the pilot about a possible device on board'', Greater Manchester Police said.
Police said they were treating it as a "full emergency" as officers did not know "know how genuine this threat is".
The plane involved was a Qatar Airways Airbus A330-300 with 282 people on board and that the RAF plane was a Typhoon from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.
Sources said the alert began when cabin crew on the jet were passed a note by a passenger. The note was passed to the captain, who alerted air traffic controllers and scrambled the quick reaction alert Typhoon jet.
The aircraft is thought to be a Qatar Airways Airbus A330 (Sky News)
Officers met the plane as it landed and police took a passenger off the plane. Matthew Qox tweeted the above picture of a man apparently being escorted off the plane by armed officers.
Chief Superintendent John O'Hare said: "An incoming plane has been escorted into the airport by the Royal Air Force as a result of information received by the pilot about a possible device on board.
"We don't know how genuine this threat is but it is absolutely vital we deal with the situation as a full emergency.
"As a result, people will see the police and other agencies at the airport and on the airfield.
"At this time I would urge them not to be alarmed. Our response will be as comprehensive as it is proportionate with the safety of those on board and in and around the airport our paramount concern."
One eyewitness said he saw a fighter jet fly over his house, and five minutes later the passenger jet could be seen coming in with the fighter jet "looping around the aircraft".
Paul Bell, who was on his way to the airport in a taxi at the time of the incident, told Sky News that he saw the RAF Typhoon meet the passenger plane.
He said: "We heard the fighter jet circling over Stockport, and literally 10 minutes later we saw the plane coming in being followed by it.
"We saw the (RAF Typhoon) coming in, literally flying around the aeroplane.
"It then pinged up on the sat nav that the airport is on lock-down.
"There are lots of people hanging around, checking their phones. We're stuck in a massive traffic jam. There are no planes landing or taking off."
An RAF spokesman said: “We can confirm that Typhoon aircraft were launched from RAF Coningsby in their quick reaction alert role this afternoon to investigate a civilian aircraft whose pilot had requested assistance. The aircraft was escorted to Manchester where it landed safely. This incident is now being handled by the civilian authorities”.
Josh Hartley, a passenger on the plane, posted a series of pictures on Twitter showing the jet flying alongside the plane, before it touched down and passengers were escorted off.
A spokesman for Qatar Airways said: "Qatar Airways can confirm that flight QR23 from Doha to Manchester, an Airbus A330-300, landed safely at Manchester Airport ahead of its scheduled arrival time of 13:15.
"There were 269 passengers and 13 Qatar Airways crew on board. The crew had received a threat about a possible device on board and #QatarAirways immediately took all the necessary precautions to alert British authorities.
"The crew is now fully assisting police at the airport with their inquiries. The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew is our top priority. As this is a matter of a police investigation, we cannot comment further at this time."
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