12/04/2006

Flight diverted after bomb threat

Prestwick Airport in Ayrshire was closed after a plane was forced to make an emergency landing following a bomb alert.

According to reports, the Ryanair flight en route from Paris to Dublin was diverted to Prestwick after claims that a bomb was onboard the plane.

RAF jets escorted to the aircraft onto the ground at Prestwick and all the passengers were taken from the plane. Police are now interviewing them at a terminal in the airport.

The plane landed at around 2:20pm.

Ryanair issued a statement saying that a note had been passed to the cabin crew on the flight saying that a bomb was onboard. The statement said: "All passengers together with Ryanair are co-operating fully with the police and local safety authorities.

"The aircraft will now be subject to a detailed search, following which we expect it will be cleared to travel onwards to Dublin.

"Ryanair apologies sincerely for any inconvenience caused to these passengers, however the safety of our passengers and aircraft will always be our number one priority."

A Strathclyde Police spokesperson confirmed that a "full emergency response" had been into operation as a result of the bomb threat.

The threat resulted in the airport being closed, several flights being diverted and delayed and a 25-mile air exclusion zone being set up around the airport.

It was reported that Prestwick Airport re-opened late on Wednesday afternoon.

(KMcA)


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