Saudia plane, carrying 442 Hajj pilgrims, diverts in Indonesia following bomb threat
Saudi Gazette report
JAKARTA — A Saudi Arabian Airlines flight, carrying Hajj pilgrims, was diverted in the Indonesian airspace following a bomb threat on Tuesday. The Saudia flight, carrying 442 pilgrims, including 207 men and 235 women, was en route to Jakarta International Airport when it was forced to divert following a bomb threat sent via email.
Saudi Airlines revealed that one of its planes received a security alert, prompting it to divert its flight from the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, to Kualanamu International Airport in Medan, Indonesia, as a precautionary measure. The Directorate General of Indonesian Civil Aviation said it received a report from Indonesia's airport operator 'regarding a bomb threat sent by an unidentified person via electronic mail.' The email at 07:30 am (0030 GMT) contained a threat to 'blow up' Saudia Airlines flight SV 5276 which was flying from the Saudi city of Jeddah to the Indonesian capital Jakarta, it said in a statement.
After 10:00 am the pilot diverted the plane from its destination of Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to Kualanamu International Airport in Medan, a city on Sumatra island in western Indonesia. 'Upon identifying security and safety threats, the pilot decided to divert the landing to the nearest airport,' said InJourney Airports, Indonesia's airport operator.
The airport evacuated the pilgrims and a bomb disposal unit swept the plane for explosive devices, the aviation body said in its statement. Eng. Abdullah Al-Shahrani, director general of Corporate Communications at Saudi Airlines, said that the plane landed safely and all passengers and crew were evacuated safely.
The relevant authorities conducted routine checks that confirmed the aircraft's safety. He also reassured the passengers' families and the public of the safety of all those on board and its crew.
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