Plane diverted due to Saddam bomb alert

A GREEK aircraft bound for New York was given the all-clear after a dawn emergency landing in Ireland today prompted by a telephone tip-off that there was a bomb on board "for Saddam".

The plane, belonging to Olympic Airlines, left Athens bound for the United States with 183 passengers and 12 crew.

But the airline told it to land at the nearest airport on receiving the tip-off and it touched down at Shannon, western Ireland, at 4.20am (1520 AEDT).

Those aboard disembarked while the aircraft, an Airbus 340, was searched.

"Unknown individuals speaking English with an Arab accent warned of the presence of a bomb on the plane, saying it was 'for Saddam'," an airline spokesman said.

Two calls had been received at Athens airport early this morning.

The plane was searched by police who found nothing and gave it the all-clear about 1030 GMT (2130 AEDT), a spokeswoman for Shannon airport said.


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