TAIWAN - The take-off of a plane, which was due to leave Taiwan for Australia on Friday night, was delayed for three hours following a hoax bomb threat.

China Airlines (CAL) received a phone call claiming that there were explosives on the CI051 flight bound for Sydney, leading to the delay as thorough safety examinations were carried out, according to CAL officials.

The incident was the fourth hoax call made to CAL so far this year, with the previous three cases occurring in May and June, CAL officials said.

The Sydney-bound CI051 flight, with 287 passengers and 16 crew members abroad, was originally scheduled to take off from the Taoyuan International Airport at 11:55 p.m. Friday, but the takeoff was delayed to 2:46 a.m. Saturday, the officials noted.

The flight affairs division of the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) received a call at 10:30 p.m. Friday warning that there were explosives placed on the A330-300 plane for the CI051 flight, and immediately asked the aviation police bureau and the CAL to take countermeasures.

Based on the standard operating procedures, the CAL conducted a thorough safety examination of the plane, including all luggage, yet found no explosives. The plane was allowed to take off and safely landed in Sydney at noon yesterday.

Diao Chien-sheng, director of the aviation police bureau, said that the hoax call was not recorded, so it will be impossible to carry voice print recognition tests. Police are now checking telephone records in a bid to track down the caller.