'Hijack warning' grounds Dutch flight

Airport police say a Dutch passenger jet bound for Turkey with more than 110 passengers on board has been grounded after a threat of a possible hostage taking or hijacking was phoned to a police emergency number.

Police spokesman Joost Wezemer says the Transavia flight to Bodrum, Turkey, has been on the tarmac at Rotterdam Airport for more than five hours.

It was due to leave at 1.20pm (Irish time) but at 4.30pm (Irish time) it was still on the tarmac.

Mr Wezemer said in a telephone interview tonight that police are investigating whether the threat is real or a hoax.

No further details were immediately available.