BOMB PANIC
Ibiza airport closed over BOMB threat on Ryanair flight sparking diversions and travel chaos as man arrested
One video taken near one of the airport's runways allegedly showed passengers being taken off a Ryanair plane
IBIZA airport has been closed following a bomb threat on a Ryanair flight.
Spanish cops said today they had arrested a man on a flight to Milan's Bergamo airport after he claimed to have been carrying a bomb.
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The suspect, who has not been named, was an Italian who had been drunk and raised the alarm once the aircraft was already off the ground.
The threat sparked chaos at the island airport, with doors shut for nearly an hour and no landings or take-offs allowed.
Flight operations are said to have been suspended from around 3.45pm to 4.30pm local time.
A spokesman for the Civil Guard confirmed that no bomb was located following the claims of the passenger.
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They said: “With regards to the security incident that occurred earlier today at Ibiza Airport, a Ryanair plane bound for Milan Bergamo had already taken off when a passenger who was apparently under the effects of alcohol claimed he was carrying a bomb.
“The plane returned again to Ibiza and the relevant protocols were activated.
“Bomb disposal experts verified there was no bomb on board and the passenger, an Italian man, was arrested.”
A spokesman for Spanish airport operator Aena said a "security incident" on a plane at Ibiza Airport had suspended normal flight operations for "around 45 minutes".
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He said he wasn’t in a position to say how many flights had been affected but confirmed three incoming flights had been diverted to Palma in Majorca, including one coming from London Heathrow.
“Three flights, one from Bilbao, one from London Heathrow and another from Bolonia in Italy, were diverted to Palma," the Aena spokesman said.
British Airways flight aborts take-off after receiving chilling bomb threat seconds before leaving for Heathrow
“The incident had knock-on effects for outgoing flights.”
FlightRadar data shows that 84 departures and 34 arrivals have so far been delayed today, while a further three arrivals were cancelled outright.
It's currently unclear whether any Brits were on the flight from Ibiza to Milan.
One video taken near one of the airport's runways allegedly showed passengers being taken off a Ryanair plane.
Earlier this month, a storm caused flight chaos at Majorca’s Palma Airport, forcing the suspension of flights for around two hours during a downpour that flooded parts of the inside of the terminal.
Pictures and videos showed planes grounded on flooded runways, water pouring through the ceiling and airport workers wading through knee-high flood water.
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One pilot was even filmed aborting his landing at the last minute after facing “zero visibility” during his approach to the airport.
He was a split-second from touching down on the sodden tarmac when he decided instead to head back towards the skies for the safety of those on board.
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