A TRANSATLANTIC flight diverted to Shannon Airport today after a note was discovered in a toilet claiming there was a bomb on board.

United Airlines flight UA-971 was travelling from Rome to Chicago in the US at the time. There were 214 passengers and crew on board.

2 The United Airlines flight was forced to divert to Shannon Airport (Stock Image) Credit: Alamy

The crew declared an emergency at around 12.45pm and informed air traffic controllers that they wished to divert to Shannon.

The Boeing 767-300 jet was about 200 kilometres west of Co Clare when the crew turned around.

On the ground, authorities at Shannon implemented emergency procedures which involved mobilising its own fire service and alerting other statutory agencies.

A number of ambulances and garda patrols responded to the airport along with four units of the fire brigade from Shannon Town.

2 Shannon Airport Credit: Alamy

Additional units of the fire service from Ennis were also mobilised to a holding point adjacent to the M18 motorway.

The flight landed safely at 1.42pm and was met by airport rescue vehicles.

The aircraft continued to a remote taxiway where it was then met by airport police and gardai while fire crews also surrounded the jet.

Passengers later disembarked from the aircraft and were taken to the terminal where they and their baggage underwent a security screening.

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The airline confirmed the flight diverted because of a ‘potential security concern’.

The flight has since been cancelled and that passengers will be sent to local hotels for the night.

The aircraft is currently scheduled to depart tomorrow at 3pm.