Passenger arrested after claim of bomb on plane

An Iberia airline flight bound for Madrid returned to Amsterdam airport today after a passenger claimed to have a bomb, Dutch TV reported.

An airport official said a struggle on board the plane could be seen from the control tower, as the plane’s crew subdued a man in the rear of the aircraft.

Customs police officers with drawn weapons boarded the aircraft and arrested the suspect, said the official.

The Dutch TV report said it was unclear if he actually had an explosive.

No motive was immediately apparent.

The aircraft – its emergency chutes activated – was visible from the terminal building.

The TV report said emergency procedures were automatically put into motion, and passengers were evacuated quickly from the aircraft. Police with dogs searched the plane.

Airport police were not immediately available to confirm details of the incident.