Turkish plane evacuated in Germany after telephone threat

BERLIN – A Turkish Airlines plane that was taxiing toward takeoff at Cologne-Bonn airport was called back and its passengers evacuated after someone made a telephone threat against the flight.

German federal police said officials who received the call to the airport Thursday morning decided to order the aircraft searched. The plane was sent to a secure position at the airport and the 111 passengers taken to a waiting room by bus.

Police with sniffer dogs searched the aircraft, and defusal experts were called in to take a closer look at one piece of hand luggage. They gave the all-clear about 3½ hours after the telephone threat, and allowed the plane to take off for Istanbul.