A China Eastern Airlines flight delayed its takeoff for more than three hours at Zia International Airport yesterday as faulty detector signalled twice presence of explosives on board.
Airport sources said Flight MU 2036 was scheduled to depart for China's southern city of Kunming at 1:05pm.
The passengers were offloaded shortly before takeoff as the detector signalled presence of explosives, said the sources.
Security personnel rushed in and conducted a through search inside the aircraft but did not find any bomb or explosives.
Passengers boarded after the check. They had to disembark again as the pilot got yet another signal. Panic spread among the passengers and airport staff at the time.
Officials afterwards became confirmed that the signal was due to the faulty detector.
The plane took off at about 4:15pm.
Civil Aviation Authority Chairman Sakeb Iqbal Khan Majlish admitted the delay but declined to explain the cause.