A note with a bomb threat written on it prompted an American passenger jet flying from Australia to Los Angeles to abort its journey.
The United Airlines flight, with nearly 250 people aboard, returned to Sydney International Airport after crew found the note, which turned out to be a hoax, Ananova reports.
A company spokesman said: “An object which raised some security suspicions was found on board. As a precaution, the captain immediately returned to Sydney, landing without incident.”
The note is understood to have been written on an air sickness bag and was found in or near one of the plane’s toilets.
Only a few days ago a group said to be linked with al Qaeda issued a terrorist threat against Australia, saying that if the country did not withdraw its troops from Iraq there would be “pools of blood”.
While the aircraft emergency was under way, flights to and from Sydney airport were either switched elsewhere or barred, but a Government spokesman said: “The first point to make is everyone is safe.”
