Jets force plane down near Rome (BBC News)

[Up2Late]

Jets force plane down near Rome

Italian military jets have intercepted a plane flying over the capital Rome where world leaders had gathered for the funeral of Pope John Paul II.

Friday, 8 April, 2005, 15:19 GMT 16:19 UK

Two F-16s forced the aircraft - heading to the city's Ciampino airport - towards a nearby air base, Italian news agencies said. There were fears a bomb may have been on board, but no bomb was found, intelligence and military sources said.

A massive security operation has been under way all day around the capital. Thousands of police, backed by the Italian army, were deployed to ensure public safety and the security of dignitaries for the occasion.

The aircraft was said to be an executive plane from the Balkans bound for Ciampino, which serves both military and civilian aircraft, the Italian ANSA news agency reported.

Air traffic was diverted away from the airspace over the city, and Ciampino airport was closed to commercial traffic on Friday. Rome's main Fiumicino airport has remained open.

[passy]

1. The airport was already closed yesterday.

It doesn't add anything to the news but I know that it was closed to commercial traffic yesterday because of all the VIPs landing there.
Plus one had to queue for 13 hours to see the Pope on wednesday.

[Moderator]

2. duplicate topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1379326&mesg_id=1379326