The threat was taken seriously and led to the cancellation of the flight from Dhaka, Bangladesh to Kathmandu, Nepal on Saturday, Bangladeshi newspaper The Business Standard reports.

After no bomb was found on the plane, police investigated and uncovered the alleged plot.

A senior figure in Bangaldesh’s counter-terrorism police force said they found a passenger’s mother and wife were trying to stop him travelling to Nepal with his extramarital partner.

A friend allegedly suggested to the mother that she could call in a bomb threat to stop the flight, leading her to phone air traffic control.

Three people have been arrested in connection with the scheme – which was also reportedly unsuccessful in preventing the man from undertaking the journey.