A man on board a Qatar Airways plane escorted into Manchester airport by a fighter jet on Tuesday has been arrested on suspicion of making a hoax bomb threat, British police said.

The crew of the Doha to Manchester flight had received a threat about a possible device on board.

Passengers have now been allowed off the plane, Greater Manchester police added in a statement.

Earlier reports said the pilot reported that a suspect device was possibly on board.

A Reuters photographer said armed police had removed a man from the aircraft in connection with the incident.

Manchester Airport was closed for 25 minutes before re-opening, an airport spokesman said.

"An incoming plane has been escorted into the airport by the Royal Air Force as a result of information received by the pilot about a possible device on board," chief superintendent John O'Hare said in a statement.

"We don't know how genuine this threat is but it is absolutely vital we deal with the situation as a full emergency," he added.

The Ministry of Defence declined to comment.