A flight carrying hundreds of holidaymakers was forced to abort just before take-off after a passenger found a "suspicious" note inside a magazine, police said today.
The 8.15am Thomas Cook flight from Manchester to Lanzarote in the Canary Islands was heading to the runway at 9.30am when passengers alerted staff and police were called.
The incident is not believed to be linked to the Metropolitan Police terror operation, a Greater Manchester police spokeswoman said.
"At 9.30 this morning police were called to stand 61 at Manchester Airport following reports that a suspicious note had been discovered on an aircraft," she said.
"As a precaution passengers were evacuated while airport security staff conducted a full search of the aircraft.
"It is not believed to be linked to the current operation the Metropolitan Police have set up in relation to air travel."
Thomas Cook said passengers were taken off the plane and returned to the terminal.
The flight was due to depart Manchester at 1.10pm. No arrests were made.
