Passengers occupy plane at Brussels airport

BRUSSELS - A group of Iranian-linked passengers refused to disembark from an aircraft at Brussels' main airport on Thursday, apparently staging a political protest, police and airline staff said.

The unarmed group of 59 passengers were talking to police, police spokeswoman Els Cleemput said, after allowing other passengers and crew to leave the Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt.

"They have all got European passports but they are probably all of Iranian origin," Cleemput said. "They have definitely got political motives."

A Lufthansa spokesman said the plane, a Boeing 737, landed in Brussels' Zaventem airport on schedule with 103 passengers and crew.

"A few passengers refused to disembark. They seemed peaceful," he said. "It appears to be a political demonstration in an unusual location."

- REUTERS