Indian passenger plane makes emergency landing in Turkey after bomb threat
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A Vistara jet made an emergency landing in Erzurum after a piece of paper with “bomb on board” written on it was found.
PHOTO: AFP
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ISTANBUL – A flight operated by India’s Vistara airline made an emergency landing on Sept 6 at around 4.30pm (9.30pm Singapore time) in Erzurum in eastern Turkey, after a piece of paper with “bomb on board” written on it was found in a lavatory, Turkish officials said.
Two bomb disposal experts and one search dog were continuing to search the aircraft, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on social media platform X, adding that 234 passengers and 13 crew had been safely evacuated.
“Vistara Flight UK27 operating from Mumbai to Frankfurt has been diverted to Turkey due to a security concern that was noted by our crew while on board,” a Vistara spokesperson told Reuters, confirming the aircraft had landed at Erzurum.
“As per protocol, the relevant authorities were immediately alerted and we are fully cooperating with the security agencies to complete the mandatory security checks.”
Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu later told broadcaster TGRT Haber that the authorities had not yet found anything that could be a bomb or posed a threat on the plane.
He said Turkey had extended a halt to landings and take-offs at Erzurum Airport to 11pm local time – initially set for 9pm – as a precautionary measure. REUTERS
