Ryanair flight to Manchester evacuated before takeoff in Norway after security alert

OSTFOLD, Norway, May 15 (UPI) -- A Ryanair flight from Norway to Manchester was evacuated before takeoff after "suspicious" behavior by two passengers later determined to be a hoax, police in Ostfold said.

Rygge airport operations leader Anders Stromsather said two "foreign nationals" were arguing in a toilet and the word "bomb" was heard aboard Ryanair flight FR3225.

Ryanair said the evacuation was delayed because of a "hoax security alert" and that the flight departed around midnight.

News reports quoting a police official say one of the arrested men was British and the other was from Sri Lanka.

Norway police have confirmed a bomb squad from the capital Oslo was on its way to Rygge to continue the investigation.

Earlier Sunday, a soccer match between Manchester United and Bournemouth was postponed after a suspicious package was discovered at the Manchester stadium. Greater Manchester police described the device as "incredibly lifelike."

In 31 years, Ryanair has grown from a small airline into one of Europe's largest carriers, connecting 200 destinations in 32 countries.