Armed police stormed the Emirates passenger jet after a "verbal threat" was made to staff late on Friday, January 8.

The three men, aged 58, 48 and 36, were arrested and remain in police custody. A search of the plane, which had 331 passengers on board, found no harmful substances. Local media reported that the three men were English and appeared to be drunk.

The security scare comes after heightened security at airports worldwide with regard to an alleged attempt by a 23-year-old Nigerian man to bomb a passenger jet on its way to Detroit from Amsterdam on December 25.

Heathrow airport, one of Europe's busiest hubs, remained open despite the incident. The airport is expected to be one of the first to receive full body scanners before the end of January.

mk/AFP/dpa

Editor: Toma Tasovac