Spanish police arrest 3 for threatening a flight by phone
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Spanish police say they have arrested two men and a woman on suspicion they caused an airliner that had taken off from Madrid's airport to turn back.
The incident occurred Dec. 14 when Spain's airport authority received a call with a recorded voice threatening a flight bound for Brazil from Barajas using phrases including "today people will die" in Spanish and "Allah is great" in Arabic.
On board were 315 passengers and 16 crew.
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Instructions to return were issued and the plane was escorted back by Spanish air force fighters.
A runway was closed as passengers and cargo were inspected, but police found no explosives and the incident was declared a false alarm.
An investigation led to the suspects who were arrested in the city of Cuenca, Saturday's statement said.