Bomb alerts affect at least four flights to, from Madrid-Xinhua - 新华网

MADRID, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Bomb alerts affected at least four flights to and from Madrid on Thursday, according to reports from Spanish public broadcaster RTVE and news agency EFE.

Citing Spain's air navigation service provider ENAIRE, RTVE reported that emails received around 9 a.m. local time (0800 GMT) warned of bombs on an Air Europa flight bound for Paris and two Iberia flights arriving in Madrid from Rome and Milan. The Air Europa aircraft was taxiing for departure at Madrid-Barajas Airport and returned to its parking stand. Both Iberia flights landed safely.

RTVE, quoting Air Europa, said Spanish Civil Guard bomb disposal specialists inspected the aircraft and baggage at around 10:30 a.m. local time (0930 GMT) and ruled out the threat.

Meanwhile, a Ryanair flight from Madrid to Sofia, Bulgaria, also received a bomb threat and landed on schedule, EFE reported. The aircraft was moved to an isolated area at Sofia's Vasil Levski Airport, where passengers disembarked and their baggage was inspected. No explosives were found, the news agency said. ■