An Air France flight travelling from Mauritius to Paris has made an emergency landing in Kenya after a suspect package was found on board.

Flight AF463, carrying 459 passengers and 14 crew members, had left Mauritius at 21:00 local time on Saturday and was due to arrive in Paris Charles de Gaulle at 05:50 local time.

The pilots of the Boeing 777 made a request to land at Moi International Airport in Mombasa after the package was discovered in the toilet.

The aircraft was safely evacuated and the item is now being examined by bomb experts.

The Kenyan Airport Authority successfully retrieved the item and after investigation it has been confirmed that the object was not dangerous.

Air France’s chief executive, Frederic Gagey told a news conference that the object was made out of paper and a timer.

A statement from the government of Mauritius said the country was working with the authorities and giving them full support.