WARSAW, Poland, June 25 (UPI) -- A 48-year-old man was arrested in Poland for allegedly making a hoax bomb threat on a Ryanair aircraft, causing the Warsaw–Modlin Mazovia Airport to partially close on Thursday.
Passengers did not board the plane. Authorities closed the airport from inbound flights while Ryanair Flight FR7023 was inspected.
The plane was due to depart back to Oslo, Norway, from Warsaw after arriving from Oslo earlier that morning. More than 160 passengers were set to board.
"This was an irresponsible prank," police spokesman Mariusz Mrozek told local broadcaster TVN24.
Ryanair, a budget airline, released a statement:
"Warsaw Modlin Airport received an anonymous call that there was an explosive device on a Ryanair aircraft due to take off from Modlin to Oslo at 8:40 a.m. local. The airport security authorities ordered an immediate inspection of the aircraft (which hadn't yet boarded) and closed the airport to inbound arrivals as a security precaution," Ryanair said wrote.
"Warsaw Modlin believes this is a hoax call and expects the security sweep to confirm this fact. They expect to release the aircraft and reopen the airport shortly. Ryanair sincerely apologizes to the customers of the outbound Oslo flight for any inconvenience caused by this hoax call," Ryanair added.
The phone call was traced to a home and a man was arrested. The airport has been reopened.
