NEED TO KNOW
A Turkish Airlines flight made an emergency landing in Barcelona, Spain, after a reported "bomb threat" appeared in a passenger's hotspot network name
The incident occurred during a flight from Istanbul to Barcelona on Thursday, Jan. 15
After a thorough search of the aircraft, authorities determined there were no explosive and subsequently cleared the alert
A Turkish Airlines plane was forced to make an emergency landing on Thursday after a passenger allegedly included “bomb threat” in their WiFi network name.
Turkish Airlines flight 1853 from Istanbul to Barcelona, Spain, departed shortly before 9 a.m. local time on Thursday, Jan. 15, according to FlightAware. As the Airbus A321 neared Barcelona’s El Prat Airport, the aircraft looped around twice off the eastern coast of Spain.
Adria Puig/Anadolu via Getty
A Turkish Airlines flight make an emergency landing in Barcelona, Spain.As the plane approached its final destination, “it was detected that a passenger had set up an in-flight internet access point and configured its network name to include a bomb threat,” according to an X post from Turkish Airlines’ senior vice president of communications, Yahya Üstün.
The executive said flight crews subsequently initiated the “necessary procedures” in accordance with “flight safety protocols.”
After landing, Üstün said the proper authorities conducted a search of the aircraft “within the framework of international aviation security rules.”
David Zorrakino/Europa Press via Getty
Passengers board the Turkish Airlines plane after the "bomb threat" was cleared.In a follow-up post, Üstün shared that “no irregularities were found” during the search.
“Efforts have been initiated to identify the passenger in question and to carry out the legal process,” he wrote. “Our aircraft’s return flight will be carried out after the completion of passenger boarding.”
In a statement shared with the Associated Press and Reuters, the Spanish Civil Guard confirmed nothing was found during a thorough inspection of the aircraft. The alert was subsequently deactivated.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The department added that police have launched an investigation to determine who was behind the hoax.
Neither representatives for El Prat Airport nor the Spanish Civil Guard in Barcelona immediately responded to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Read the original article on People
LATEST POSTS
- 1
Twins were the norm for our ancient primate ancestors − one baby at a time had evolutionary advantages - 2Iranian strikes on Israel injure 11 and set chemical plant ablaze
- 3'Malcolm in the Middle' reboot releases 1st trailer, reuniting Frankie Muniz and Bryan Cranston: Watch here
- 4Italian authorities detain civilian rescue ship, German NGO says
- 5From Overpowered to Coordinated: Individual Accounts of Cleaning up
- IDF strikes terror infrastructure across Iran, attack reported on Kashan airport
- The most effective method to Consummate the Specialty of Handshaking in Business and Group environments
- It's your last chance to subscribe to Paramount+ before they raise their prices: Here's how to lock in current pricing
- Bondi Beach survivor criticizes police for inaction during terror attack
- Brazil expands pesticide packaging reverse logistics
- Here's what the Artemis 2 astronauts will be doing on each day of NASA's historic moon mission
- Nordic people know how to beat the winter blues. Here's how to find light in the darkest months
- Which Kind of Pet Makes the Incomparable Buddy?
- FDA claims on COVID-19 vaccine safety are unsupported by reliable data – and could severely hinder vaccine access
