Ireland

Ryanair plane evacuated in Norway over bomb scare

‘Suspicious behaviour’ of two passengers prompted bomb squad to search the aircraft

Police bomb squad search a Ryanair plane at Moss Airport Rygge in Norway, on Sunday. Norwegian police say a Manchester-bound plane was evacuated before takeoff due to the “suspicious behavior” of two passengers. Photograph: AP
Police bomb squad search a Ryanair plane at Moss Airport Rygge in Norway, on Sunday. Norwegian police say a Manchester-bound plane was evacuated before takeoff due to the “suspicious behavior” of two passengers. Photograph: AP
Mon May 16 2016 - 10:36

A Ryanair plane heading for Manchester was evacuated before take-off due to a bomb scare at Rygge airport outside Oslo, Norway on Sunday night.

The plane was evacuated due to the “suspicious behaviour” of two passengers and a bomb squad searched the aircraft but found nothing suspicious.

Police later said the incident was due to a misunderstanding.

A police officer stands guard near a Ryanair plane on Rygge Airport in Moss, near Oslo, on Sunday where a police bomb squad was deployed to check the plane. The plane was scheduled to fly to Manchester, England. Photograph: EPA
A police officer stands guard near a Ryanair plane on Rygge Airport in Moss, near Oslo, on Sunday where a police bomb squad was deployed to check the plane. The plane was scheduled to fly to Manchester, England. Photograph: EPA
A police officer stands guard near a Ryanair plane on Rygge Airport in Norway, where a police bomb squad was deployed to check a plane and had two passengers escorted from the aircraft for what was reported as ‘strange behaviour’. Photograph: EPA
A police officer stands guard near a Ryanair plane on Rygge Airport in Norway, where a police bomb squad was deployed to check a plane and had two passengers escorted from the aircraft for what was reported as ‘strange behaviour’. Photograph: EPA

Police spokesman Anders Stroemsaether told public broadcaster NRK that the incident started before boarding when two foreign passengers were overheard arguing in an airport toilet.

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He said other passengers heard the word “bomb” being used and told the captain as they boarded the aircraft.

The captain informed police who evacuated the plane and brought the two passengers in for questioning.

Police said on Twitter that nothing suspicious had been found at the airport and the two passengers were discharged.

They said: “After questioning of witnesses and those brought in, the police have concluded that the situation is a result of a misunderstanding.”

The incident came hours after a fake bomb was found at Manchester United's football stadium, prompting police to call off a Premier League match.