Musharraf evacuated from UK-bound flight following bomb scare

Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf was among the passengers taken off a London-bound flight of Virgin Atlantic at New Jersey airport in the US following a bomb scare, a media report said here on Wednesday.

Musharraf and other passengers were evacuated from the aircraft after a security alert about a suspicious traveller and reports of a bomb in the airliner, Geo News said. The aircraft was later cleared and all the passengers were given the go-ahead to board it. However, Musharraf was taken to a local hotel and accommodated there.

A passenger, reportedly from the Middle East, bought a one-way ticket on the flight and paid for it in cash. The man was arrested and the channel quoted US security sources as saying that they feared he might pose a threat to the flight. Virgin Atlantic's management declined to give the reason behind the emergency.

Musharraf has been living outside Pakistan since April last year. He resigned as President in mid-2008 to avoid being impeached by the Pakistan People's Party-led government.