Flights delayed at Athens airport over security alert

Dozens of flights were delayed at the Athens international airport on Sunday following a security alert, authorities said.

The disruption came as police deemed it necessary to further search a woman passenger, Xinhua reported, citing an airport announcement.

However, when investigators located the passenger, she had already embarked on an Aegean Airlines flight to Madrid.

The flight was diverted to the Palma de Mallorca airport where a thorough search was conducted on all passengers and luggage, without anything suspicious emerging. The aircraft was finally allowed continue its journey to the Spanish capital, the Greek airliner said in a press release.

Aegean Airlines and the airport did not reveal the nationality of the passenger and the cause of the alarm.