Manchester-bound Ryanair plane evacuated in Norway

Stockholm: A Ryanair plane headed for Manchester, Britain, was evacuated before takeoff due to a bomb scare at Rygge airport outside Oslo, police said.

The plane was evacuated yesterday 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.

Police spokesman Anders Stroemsaether told public broadcaster NRK that the incident started before boarding when two foreign passengers were overheard arguing in an airport lavatory. 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 later yesterday that nothing suspicious had been found at the airport and the two passengers were discharged.

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

Rygge Airport is about 65 kilometres from Oslo.

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.

British police later said it was a training device that was left inside the stadium following an earlier security exercise.