False Bomb Threat Forces Emergency Landing of Vistara Flight in Turkey

A Vistara Airlines flight from Mumbai to Frankfurt made an emergency landing in Erzurum, Turkey, due to a bomb threat, later found to be false. Turkish officials discovered a note in the plane's lavatory. The situation was resolved without incident, and passengers will continue their journey on a new aircraft.

(Recasts with local governor's statement about false threat) ISTANBUL, Sept 6 (Reuters) -

A bomb threat that forced a flight operated by India's Vistara Airlines to make an emergency landing on Friday around 4:30 p.m. (1330 GMT) in Erzurum in eastern Turkey was a false threat, the local governor said late on Friday. Turkish officials had said a piece of paper with 'bomb on board' written on it was found in a lavatory on the aircraft, prompting bomb disposal teams to search the plane and evacuate its 234 passengers and 13 crew.

A Vistara spokesperson had said a UK 27 flight from Mumbai to Frankfurt diverted due to 'a security concern.' 'As of 23:30, we have completed all search and examination operations. As a result of the work we carried out, we found that the bomb threat was unfounded,' Erzurum Governor Mustafa Ciftci told reporters at the airport.

Ciftci also said a precautionary halt to landings and take-offs at the airport was lifted after inspections were completed. 'All flights coming or leaving from our province will now be able to fly comfortably,' he said.

A new aircraft would arrive from Mumbai at 7:25 a.m. local time on Saturday to take the passengers to Frankfurt, he said.

(With inputs from agencies.)