Pakistan bomb scare jet cleared to take off

Pakistan Airlines Boeing 747 was pulled to a quiet stretch of Manchester Airport

MANCHESTER, England -- A Pakistan International Airways jet grounded in England after a bomb scare has been cleared to continue its journey to New York, police said.

A Greater Manchester Police spokeswoman said searches of the Boeing 747 and luggage belonging to the 462 passengers on board had proved "negative."

She said Flight F711 would continue its journey as soon a take-off spot became available.

"Following a number of telephone calls alleging that a bomb had been planted on the plane, a search of the aircraft and the luggage in the hold was conducted.

"The search proved negative. It is anticipated that the plane will continue its journey early this morning when it can get a take-off slot," she said.

Flight F711 began its journey to New York's JFK airport from Lahore on Friday night and was due to refuel at Manchester on Saturday, leaving the British airport at around 1120 GMT.

But at 0430 GMT on Saturday, Pakistan International Airways received four calls from a man warning that a bomb was on board the plane. He said it would explode over the Atlantic.

Fire crews and police were put on full alert. The flight touched down at Manchester at 0910 GMT on Saturday but police and security officers waited until 1800 GMT -- after the scheduled arrival time in New York -- before they began the search.

The plane's passengers and 17 crew were accommodated in hotels near the airport, the spokeswoman said.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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