Three held after security alert at Heathrow Airport
There is heightened security at airports after failed Christmas Day bombings
Police have arrested three men on a plane at London's Heathrow Airport on suspicion of making a bomb threat.
Armed officers boarded the Dubai-bound Emirates flight after verbal threats were made to air crew.
The Metropolitan Police said the three men, aged aged 58, 48 and 36, were in police custody.
The incident came amid heightened tension at airports across the world following an unsuccessful attempt to bomb an airliner on Christmas Day.
The Metropolitan Police said police were called after a "verbal threat was made to staff".
"They have been arrested on suspicion of making a bomb threat," the force said.
Police with sniffer dogs searched the aircraft, which had 331 passengers on board, and it is understood no dangerous substances were found.
Rescheduled departure
The other passengers were eventually taken off the aircraft and driven to a hotel for the night.
Their flight was rescheduled and is due to to depart at 1500 GMT on Saturday.
Police just swarmed the guy and rushed him out
Cameron McLean
Passenger, speaking to Sky News
A statement from Emirates said: "Following remarks made as Emirates flight EK004 prepared to depart London Heathrow for Dubai (yesterday) evening, crew alerted the Metropolitan Police who subsequently boarded the aircraft and detained three passengers.
"The safety and security of all our passengers is paramount. We apologise for the inconvenience."
The threat was made at 2115 GMT on Friday as the aircraft was due to take off for Dubai.
It is thought the suspects were all British men who were sitting in economy.
One passenger told Sky News armed police boarded a flight and took a man off in handcuffs.
Cameron McLean said: "Police just swarmed the guy and rushed him out.
"I think he was a white male. There was another one but I didn't see him."
He said the man was taken out in handcuffs.
Extra bag checks, body searches and on board regulations have seen travellers in London wait up to three hours before their flights take off, following the failed bombing of plane en route to the US city of Detroit.