Two men who allegedly threatened to blow up a PIA aircraft and kill its passengers and crew were remanded in custody on Monday.
Taxi driver and supermarket employee Tayyab Subhani, 30, and restaurant worker Mohammed Safdar, 41, appeared at Chelmsford magistrate’s court charged with endangering an aircraft.
The defendants allegedly made false threats that the crew and passengers would be killed and the aircraft blown up before landing, which was false, misleading and deceptive.
The men, who were both born in Burnley, Lancashire, spoke only to confirm their names and addresses. Their lawyers said they would deny the charge.
The pair were arrested on Friday at Stansted airport after Pakistan International Airways (PIA) flight PK709 from Lahore was diverted from Manchester.
They were travelling home after attending Safdar’s mother’s funeral, the court was told.
The Boeing 777 plane, carrying 308 passengers, was escorted into Stansted by an RAF Typhoon fighter jet after the pilot reported threats being made and landed at the Essex air hub at 2.20pm.
Magistrate Sarah-Jane Davies refused to grant the defendants bail.
Safdar and Subhani, both from Nelson, Lancs, will appear at Chelmsford crown court on 5 August for a plea and case management hearing.
Endangering an aircraft carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
