Security scare at St. Peter's Square

The Italian military intercepted a "suspicious plane" heading for the Rome's Ciampino Airport, hours after hundreds of world leaders and millions of pilgrims assembled for the historic funeral of Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square.

Italian media report two Italian F-16s intercepted the executive jet and forced it without incident to land at a nearby military base.

Initial reports from Italy's ANSA news agency were that Italian authorities received intelligence the Lear 131 jet carried an explosive device.

No bomb was found on board the aircraft, however, according to follow up reports, and the incident was deemed over.

Thousands of police, backed by the Italian army, staged a massive security operation around Italy's capital to guard against threats to dignitaries from 138 countries and millions of mourners paying their last respects to the pontiff.

Air traffic was diverted away from the airspace over Rome and Ciampino Airport is closed to commercial traffic today.

Air Force One, carying President Bush and his delegation, including former President George H.W. Bush and former President Bill Clinton, had already departed when the unidentified plane was spotted.

Terrorism expert Neil Livingstone told Fox News the security scare hits close to home because national security officials have "worried for a long time" about the potential for attacks involving private planes.