British Boeing grounded in Greece by bomb hoax

A British Boeing jet made an emergency landing in Athens after a bomb threat but no explosives were found on the plane, Greek authorities said on Monday. The plane, chartered by Thomson Airways, was travelling from the British city of Bristol to the Egyptian resort of Sharm el Sheikh with 213 passengers and crew. They were all safely evacuated to allow security checks.
"There was no security issue; there was nothing suspect on the plane," said police spokesman Thanassis Kokkalakis. "All passengers, their luggage and the aircraft have been checked." The passengers would soon board the plane again, he added. The Boeing was expected to take off at about 1700 GMT and continue its flight to Egypt. Two Greek fighter jets escorted the plane to Athens after it received the bomb threat, a Defence Ministry official told Reuters. Thomson Airwaysis owned by TUI Travel.