‘Bomb talk’ on jet sparks emergency

THREE Britons were being questioned yesterday after their “bomb talk” on a jet prompted the pilot to make an unscheduled landing.

The conversation led to the Londonbound easyJet Airbus being diverted to Cologne-Bonn airport in Germany.

All 151 passengers were evacuated via emergency slides and nine people suffered minor injuries. A search with dogs found no trace of explosive.

But a rucksack belonging to one of the men was blown up in a controlled explosion. Police said it did not contain an explosive device.

The flight from Slovenia to Stansted, Essex, was diverted on Saturday after passengers told crew the men, aged 31, 38, and 48 had spoken of a “bomb” and “explosive”. One is believed to have had a book with a sniper’s rifle on the cover.

They were returning to Britain after a business trip to Slovenia.

A spokesman for Cologne-Bonn airport said yesterday: “The pilot had been informed about a suspicious conversation on board, after which he decided to make an unscheduled landing in Cologne-Bonn. After the safe landing, the 151 passengers left the aircraft via emergency slides.” Police said they were investigating a suspicion that the men were preparing to carry out “a serious violent crime that could have jeopardised the state”.

A Cologne police spokesman said: “During the flight, other passengers had made the crew aware of the men. According to the witnesses, their talk had been the subject of terrorist content. Thereupon the flight captain had decided to carry out an evacuation in Cologne. There, the aircraft was cleared in a secure area.”

The three have been released without charge. The emergency led to 20 flights being delayed and 17 diverted to other airports. Two were cancelled.