Italian jets intercept Rome bound plane

Two Italian F16 jet fighters intercepted a suspicious plane heading to Rome’s Ciampino airport today, hours after the pope’s funeral, and escorted to a local airport.

The news agency ANSA quoted intelligence sources as saying there might have been a bomb on the plane. It later said no bomb was found.

ANSA said the aircraft was a Lear Jet 131 executive jet from Belgrade bound for Rome’s Ciampino, which serves both military and civilian aircraft.

Ciampino airport was closed today for the pope’s funeral.

The incident happened amid a heightened alert because of the presence in Rome of dozens of royalty and heads of state or government for the pope’s funeral. Dignitaries from 138 countries attended the event.

President George Bush and his delegation, including his father, former President George Bush, and former President Bill Clinton, already had left Rome to return to the US when the unidentified plane was spotted.