'Bomb' written on drink can aborts flight

23 May 2012, 7:35 pm   -   Source: AAP

A Mauritius-bound plane returned to Melbourne after a soft drink can was found on board with the word 'bomb" written on it.

A soft drink can with the word "bomb" written on it forced a Mauritius-bound airliner to return to Melbourne airport, triggering a major emergency.

The captain of the Air Mauritius flight, which took off at 1.24pm (AEST), made the decision to return to Melbourne after the suspicious can was found on board.

The plane, with 180 passengers and nine crew, landed back at Tullamarine at 2.55pm where 12 fire trucks were on standby.

Victoria Police will be speaking with everyone who was on the plane to try to find out who saw the suspicious soft drink can first.

It is being inspected by the Arson and Explosives Squad to determine if there are any explosive substances, while all the baggage aboard the flight will be removed and screened.

Police said no threats were received by the airline.

At this stage no one has been arrested.

Melbourne Airport is operating as normal and there have been no delays to other flights.

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