NICOSIA, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- A bomb threat at Larnaca International Airport in Cyprus has turned out to be false, the Cyprus News Agency reported Friday.
Cypriot Transport Minister Evi Tsolaki said a warning had been sent to the country's civil aviation authorities and other government agencies that there was a bomb concealed in the hold luggage of a plane.
The alert prompted a security operation at the airport, with police describing the situation as a "serious incident."
Tsolaki said authorities had followed established security procedures, taking passengers off the plane and back to the terminal while detailed checks of the aircraft and baggage were carried out.
The aircraft was moved to an isolated position for security checks. The measure was intended to minimize any potential risk to passengers, airport property and other aircraft.
Once the aircraft and its hold luggage were declared safe, the flight was cleared to leave the airport.
Local media said the aircraft had been scheduled to operate a Larnaca-Rome flight Friday morning.
Cypriot newspaper Phileleftheros reported that police and firefighters were deployed at the airport during the operation, as well as an explosives specialist. ■
