A passenger was arrested at Heathrow Airport after a woman said she was raped in business class on an overnight transatlantic flight from New Jersey.
The woman said she was attacked by a 40-year-old man while others slept on the flight from Newark on 31 January.
Officers boarded the United Airlines plane after it landed at 06:39 GMT and arrested the man who has since been released under investigation.
The Met Police said the woman was being supported by specialist officers.
A spokesperson from the Metropolitan Police said: “At 06:39hrs on Monday, 31 January police at Heathrow Airport were alerted to an incident on an inbound flight.
“Officers met the aircraft on arrival and arrested a 40-year-old man on suspicion of rape. He has been released under investigation.
“The complainant, a 40-year-old woman, is being supported by specialist officers and enquiries are ongoing.”
A spokesperson from United Airlines said the flight crew alerted police of the incident as soon as the complaint was received.
“We will cooperate with law enforcement on any investigation,” the spokesperson added.