Transport Minister Evi Tsolaki on Friday confirmed that the civil aviation department, as well as other state agencies, had received a fax regarding “the existence of a bomb” on an aircraft, though the matter was declared to have passed shortly after 1.30pm

The police had earlier reported a “serious incident” at the aerodrome, with it later revealed that a fax had been sent to various government offices stating that a bomb had been hidden in the luggage of an outbound flight.

Now, however, with the aircraft and the luggage in its hold having been declared safe, the flight will depart.

Tsolaki told the Cyprus News Agency that “there are protocols and procedures which have been followed from the very beginning. Based on the procedures, an initial threat assessment is carried out, and then the necessary checks are undertaken”.

She added that the aircraft’s passengers were taken back to the terminal building and that they are “safe”, and that the police have been conducting “checks” on both the aircraft itself and on the luggage put onto it.

Additionally, she said, the aircraft has “been moved away”, so as to ensure that “there is no danger to anyone, to properties, or to other aeroplanes”.

News reports have stated that the aircraft was due to depart from Larnaca for Rome on Friday morning.

According to newspaper Phileleftheros, the scene is being attended by police officers and firefighters, with a specialist pyrotechnician expected to arrive on the scene in due course.