Plane diverted after bomb threat

An Air France passenger jet from Rio de Janeiro to Paris was forced to make an emergency landing in north-eastern Brazil because of a bomb threat, a company spokesman said.

The plane was scheduled to take off again last night after no explosive was found on board.

The threat was phoned in to Rio's international airport by a female voice about 30 minutes after the plane took off. The control tower contacted the jet and the decision was made to land in Recife. All 405 passengers and 18 crew were safely evacuated. They were taken to hotels while checks were made.