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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - A Royal Jordanian (RJ) flight was halted for six hours on Thursday after a passenger who arrived late after the gate closed reportedly called in a false bomb threat to catch the flight from Kuwait to Amman.

After passengers boarded the plane, they were asked to evacuate the aircraft as Kuwaiti security cadres searched the plane for the alleged bomb in the Kuwait International Airport, Ammon News learned.

Kuwaiti authorities announced that the bomb threat was a "hoax," but the threat was taken seriously and security measures were taken to ensure the safety of passengers.

The flight later departed Kuwait and arrived in Amman late on Thursday night after security precautionary measures were taken.

Royal Jordanian issued a statement following the incident, noting that the false bomb threat caused a 6-hour delay in the flight departure.

RJ's spokesperson Basil Kilani said that the 321 Airbus flight No. 641 was about to depart Kuwait's International Airport with 150 passengers, before a passenger who arrived late after the gate closed called and alleged that a bomb was on board the plane.

The passenger's reportedly called in an effort "to delay the flight for him to be able to make it on board," RJ's statement said.

Kilani added that RJ commits to all local and international safety and security standards, and took the alleged claim seriously.

All passengers and luggage were taken off the plane as Kuwait airport security cadres searched the plane, before the claim was discovered to be a hoax.

The late passenger who made the false alarm was arrested and investigated by Kuwaiti officials, Kilani added.