Ryanair passengers were taken away in groups after officers were called onto a flight heading to Liverpool.
A Ryanair flight from Vienna to Liverpool John Lennon Airport was due to take off at 4.35pm on Friday, August 5, when passengers were delayed after being seated onboard. Around 25 minutes after the plane was due to take off, one eyewitness noticed fire engines and police cars on the tarmac.
Passengers first thought the emergency services were for a nearby Wizz Air flight, but were then asked to leave the plane.
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A passenger onboard from Liverpool, who asked not to be named, said: "Tonight's flight was evacuated due to threats to the Ryanair plane. We were on plane from about 4pm, 25 mins after departure time I could see fire engine and police cars with blue lights flashing.
"They were rushing to move a Wizz Airr flight adjacent to us, then they told us to disembark. No panic, it was done calmly and relatively quickly.
"They didn't tell us anything else and handed out free water in terminal gate C71. Passengers were getting taken away in groups, they didn't say why."
Ryanair has confirmed to The ECHO the flight was delayed due to a "hoax security threat".
A spokesperson from Ryanair said: "This flight from Vienna to Liverpool (05 Aug) was delayed ahead of take off after a hoax security threat was received. Passengers were disembarked, while the police carried out a security search and cleared the aircraft to return to service.
"The flight departed with a delay of approx. 3.5 hours. Ryanair sincerely apologises to affected passengers for this delay. This is now a matter for local police.”
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