Terror scare over passenger forces BA flight back to UK

A British Airways flight had to return to London two hours into its journey after a terror scare, it was revealed today.

The Boeing 747 was ordered back to London because of a "data discrepancy" concerning an American passenger.

US authorities ordered the Mexico City-bound Boeing 747, with 318 passengers on board, to fly back to Heathrow from just west of Ireland.

It is understood that the passenger, a 55-year-old man, was escorted off the plane at Heathrow and his bags searched under the Terrorism Act.

A BA spokesman said: "BA flight 243 returned to Heathrow on Friday afternoon due to a data discrepancy with a US citizen. The passenger was asked to leave, which he duly did, and collected his bags. The plane was refuelled and left later that day."

The suspect was then handed to immigration officers. It is not known if he was later released.

A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: "There has been no breach of security at Heathrow as a result of this incident."