Easyjet plane heading for UK evacuated after woman 'spots ISIS messages on passenger's phone'
16:49, 27 MAR 2016
A female traveller told cabin crew that she feared the man sitting next to her was an Islamic extremist leading to an evacuation of the aircraft
A UK-bound easyJet flight was evacuated after a woman claimed she saw ISIS-related messages on a passenger's phone.
The female traveller told cabin crew that she feared the man sitting next to her could be an Islamic extremist.
EasyJet staff decided to evacuate the Airbus A319 as it sat on the tarmac in Vienna on Saturday lunchtime.
Austrian officials ordered passengers and their luggage to undergo additional screening following the scare.
The Gatwick-bound plane was delayed for several hours while security checks were carried out.
It was eventually allowed to continue with its journey but the two passengers were barred from flying.
Austria's interior ministry said the man hauled off the plane was an innocent Iraqi citizen.
He was eventually freed without charge after background checks were carried out.
Ministry spokesman Karl-Heinz Grundboeck said: "There was nothing suspicious found.
"He has been allowed to continue his journey. The only thing outstanding is detailed analysis of his phone."
He refused to reveal the nationality of the woman who made the claims about a possible ISIS link.
Flight 5352 eventually arrived at Gatwick three hours behind schedule due to the unexpected delay.
An easyJet spokeswoman confirmed the flight was delayed "due to additional security checks before departure."
She added: "The safety and security of its passengers and crew is our highest priority.
"We apologise for the delay and any inconvenience caused as a result."
The incident came in the wake of the ISIS bombings in Brussels, which claimed the lives of 28 people.
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