A Saudi Arabian Airlines flight from Jeddah to the Indonesian capital Jakarta was diverted after the Indonesian Civil Aviation Authority received a false email alert that a bomb was on board the plane carrying 442 pilgrims.
The plane was forced to make an emergency landing in the city of Medan on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
Flight No. “SV527” bound for Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta was diverted as a precaution after it landed on a square on the island of Sumatra, the Indonesian Civil Aviation Authority explained, and all passengers and crew were safely evacuated. The Bomb Disposal Unit launched an extensive search of the plane, citing an anonymous email threat to the airport directorate this morning (Tuesday), which prompted authorities to take urgent security measures.
“Information about the bomb sent by an unknown person via email was received, the flight crew was immediately informed, and the plane was diverted to an alternative airport as a precautionary measure,” the directorate said in an official statement.
On the other hand, Engineer Abdullah Al-Shahrani, General Manager of Corporate Communications at Saudi Airlines, confirmed that the plane landed safely at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and that communications were handled in accordance with the security procedures followed. “According to the security report received on the plane, (Saudi Airlines) diverted its flight number (SV5276) to Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Indonesia as a precautionary measure, and all passengers and crew were safely evacuated,” he noted. Al-Shahrani added that “Saudi Airlines” affirms its full commitment to the safety and security of its guests, and “provides full care and support to the affected passengers, and alternative travel arrangements are currently being made for them to continue their journey to Jakarta.”
According to Indonesian sources, the explosives disposal unit did not find any suspicious objects on the plane, while competent authorities, in cooperation with local and international security authorities, have launched a comprehensive investigation to determine the source of the threat.
The incident comes at the height of the season for pilgrims to return to their countries, as Saudi Airlines operates hundreds of flights designated to transport pilgrims to various countries around the world, amid careful security and organizational arrangements to ensure the safety of operations during this critical period.
