Passengers evacuated after security alert on Sydney jet

An airliner arriving from Fiji was stopped away from the terminal at Australia’s biggest airport and its passengers evacuated today because of a security threat, officials said.

Police bomb-squad dogs searched the 737 of budget carrier Pacific Blue, a subsidiary of British mogul Richard Branson’s Virgin group of companies, after the passengers were taken off the flight, Australian Federal Police said.

A duty spokesman for New South Wales police said no suspicious items were found on board the plane.

“A Pacific Blue flight from Nadi, Fiji, which landed at approximately 5.45pm local time (8.45am Irish time) today has had a threat made against it,” said Peter Vickary, a spokesman for the Sydney Airport Corp., which runs the airport.

“That aircraft has been parked away from the terminal, the passengers have been evacuated and the New South Wales police are now investigating,” he said.

No other flights were affected, he said.

The source of the alleged threat was unclear. The Seven television network reported it had been made by telephone from the Philippines.

Chief Superintendent Andres Caro, head of the police Aviation Security Group in the Philippines, said he was not aware of a threat being made against the plane.

Passenger Daniela Psiender, of Sydney, said those on board the plane had been separated into two groups after being taken off the flight and that her group was held as search dogs, a standard security measure at Sydney Airport, looked over the group. They were then allowed to go.