Ryanair flight from Oslo to Manchester evacuated over 'bomb threat'

Passengers heard two men arguing and the word 'bomb' was overheard

Ryanair said the incident was a 'hoax' and apologised for the inconvenience caused (file photo) (Getty)

A Ryanair flight scheduled to fly from Norway to Manchester Airport has been evacuated over a bomb threat.

Oslo Police said two people had got into a fight near the toilet area shortly before takeoff at Rygge airport and passengers reported it to the captain after the word "bomb" was heard.

The flight, which had been scheduled to leave at 6:55pm local time (3:55pm UK time) was then evacuated and a search of the flight was carried out but no explosives were found.

A police bomb squad was called at around 8:45pm local time and officers arrested two foreign nationals - who are believed to be British and Sri Lankan.

Local police commander Anders Stromsaether told Norwegian media: "There was a quarrel between two foreign nationals near a toilet.

"Witnesses perceived this as suspicious, given that the word bomb was mentioned".

Passengers tweeted that they had been told to expect delays of at least five hours.

A spokeswoman for Ryanair told the London Evening Standard the incident was a "hoax".

She said: "Customers disembarked the aircraft and were provided with refreshment vouchers, and will depart to Manchester shortly.

"Ryanair sincerely apologised for any inconvenience caused by this hoax."

It came just hours after a similar bomb hoax which led to the evacuation of tens of thousands of football fans at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester.

The players were just moments from kickoff for the match between Manchester United and Bournemouth when police found a "incredibly lifelike" fake explosive.

It later transpired the device was a prop which had been left behind by a private security company running a training exercise on Wednesday.