The bomb threat on an Air India passenger aircraft flying to the US on Thursday was a hoax, the airline has said.

An official at the state-run airline said the plane is back in the air after fighter jets were scrambled to Stansted where the plane was diverted to following the threat. 

A hoax call was received at Mumbai airport, the official said, adding that there is no security threat. The plane is now back in the air. 

The Air India Boeing 777 was flying from Mumbai to New York but landed safely at the London airport on Thursday morning.

It was isolated on a runway at Stansted but caused minor delays to passengers at the airport.

Earlier, a Stansted spokesperson said: “An Air India Boeing 777 diverted into Stansted at approximately 1015 this morning.  

“The aircraft, which was flying from Mumbai to New York, landed safely with Essex Police in attendance. It is parked on an isolated stand away from the normal airport operations.”

The RAF confirmed the jets had been scrambled from Coningsby, adding: “The aircraft was safely escorted to Stansted airport.

“The Typhoon aircraft were authorised to transit at supersonic speed for operational reasons; any inconvenience caused to local residents is regretted.”

A loud bang reported by several residents of Derby on social media has been linked to the unscheduled landing of the Air India Boeing 777 flight at Stansted.

The noise was believed to be a sonic boom caused by the two RAF jets escorting the plane into the airport.

Residents first reported hearing the noise just after 10am today.