ANKARA, Jan 18: A Turkish Airlines plane heading to New York returned to Istanbul on Friday because of suspicions over a Pakistani passenger, Anatolia new agency reported.

The Pakistani boarded the plane in Ankara but decided to get off in Istanbul, where the plane made a stopover, the agency said.

His bags were also removed, but the plane, an Airbus 340, later returned to Istanbul about an hour after take-off because of suspicion that other luggage belonging to the man could have remained aboard.

The passengers were evacuated and security officials were checking the luggage at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport, Anatolia said.—AFP