A Ryanair flight with 190 passengers was evacuated after a bomb scare onboard the aircraft.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 arrived at Palermo Airport (PMO), in Sicily, Italy, shortly after 8pm on March 17, 2023, where passengers and crew were instructed to leave the plane.
According to reports the alarm was raised as the plane came into land after departing from Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) earlier that evening.
Emergency services and bomb specialists rushed to the scene and the airspace around the airport was promptly closed.
A number of flights from Milan, Florence and Budapest were diverted to Sicily’s other major airport, Catania-Fontanarossa (CTA).
After bomb experts inspected the plane, the incident was given the all clear and the airport was able to accept flights again.
Local media suggested that concerns centered around a suspicious suitcase on the plane.
The company that manages the Falcone e Borsellino airport tweeted: “The following flights were diverted to Catania airport: VY6922/6923 FLR/PMO/FLR 20:55 to 21:40; AZ1793/1790 LIN/PMO/LIN 20.35 – 21.20 FR2020/2021 BUD/PMO/BUD 20.50 – 21.15”.
This is the second bomb scare in March 2023. Earlier in the month a note was found in the bathroom of a mid-air United Airlines flight reportedly making a threat that there was a device on board the plane.
AeroTime has contacted Ryanair for comment regarding the Palermo Airport incident.