Indian passenger plane makes emergency landing in Türkiye amid bomb threat
A Vistara Airbus A320 passenger aircraft prepares for takeoff at Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport in Mumbai, India, July 11, 2018. (Reuters Photo)
An Indian passenger plane en route to Germany made an emergency landing in Türkiye’s eastern city of Erzurum on Friday afternoon after a bomb threat was reported onboard, prompting an immediate response from local authorities.
The Vistara Airlines flight UK27, which had departed from Mumbai and was bound for Frankfurt, was diverted to Erzurum Airport “due to security reasons,” according to an initial statement from the airline. The aircraft, carrying 234 passengers and 13 crew members, landed safely at 19:05 local time.
“Flight UK27 from Mumbai to Frankfurt (BOM-FRA) has been diverted to Türkiye (Erzurum Airport) due to security reasons and has landed safely at 19:05 hours,” the airline said.
However, shortly after the landing, Turkish authorities confirmed that the diversion was the result of a bomb threat. Erzurum Governor Mustafa Cifci stated that local emergency services were immediately dispatched to the airport, with disaster response teams, police, firefighters, and medical personnel quickly arriving at the scene.
“Right now, teams are on the ground, inspecting the luggage. AFAD teams have safely evacuated the passengers. Law enforcement, including special operations police, and all our teams are on site,” Cifci said. He also noted that Erzurum airspace had been temporarily closed to ensure safety during the investigation.
The bomb threat was discovered through a note found in one of the aircraft’s restrooms. Türkiye’s Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, shared details of the incident on social media, confirming the nature of the threat and the steps taken in response.
“A note was found in the restroom of Vistara Airlines flight VTI027, flying from Mumbai to Frankfurt, claiming there was a bomb on the plane. Upon receiving the threat, the plane made an emergency landing at Erzurum Airport around 16:30. The 234 passengers and 13 crew members were safely disembarked, and searches are ongoing with two bomb disposal experts and a search dog,” Yerlikaya said.
Turkish authorities have mobilized extensive resources to manage the situation. According to Yerlikaya, emergency response teams, including the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), police, medical personnel, and firefighters, were actively involved in securing the area and ensuring the safety of those onboard.
Yerlikaya also confirmed that flights in and out of Erzurum Airport had been suspended until 21:00 local time, adding, “Erzurum Havaalanımıza saat 21.00’a kadar acil durum nedeniyle iniş ve kalkışlara izin verilmemektedir.”
The exact nature of the threat remains under investigation, with bomb squads conducting thorough searches of the plane’s cabin and cargo areas. As of now, there have been no reports of any explosive devices being found, but authorities are continuing to investigate the situation closely.
This is not the first time an Indian airline has faced security threats while flying over foreign airspace. Incidents like this underline the importance of swift cooperation between international airlines and local authorities to ensure the safety of passengers.
