A Vistara flight (UK 131) from Mumbai to Colombo made an emergency landing at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Sri Lanka after receiving a bomb threat. The flight, which was carrying 96 passengers and 8 crew members, safely landed at 14:49 hrs, just two minutes ahead of its scheduled arrival.
Threat Noticed Just 10 Minutes Before Landing
The bomb threat came through a nonspecific call that was reported to the captain of the flight only 10 minutes before the aircraft was set to land. In response to the threat, the captain followed standard procedures and immediately informed the authorities. As a result, an emergency was declared at the airport.
Upon landing, airport authorities quickly evacuated all passengers and crew from the aircraft as a precautionary measure. The passengers were safely moved to the terminal while security teams conducted a thorough search of the aircraft.
The Civil Aviation Authority, along with the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL), handled the situation with care. In a statement, the Civil Aviation Authority emphasized that all necessary protocols were followed to ensure the safety and security of the passengers. They confirmed that safety is always their highest priority during such incidents.
All Evacuated Safely: No Threat Found
“After receiving the bomb threat, all relevant authorities were alerted, and an emergency was declared. The passengers and crew were evacuated safely, and no explosives were found on board,” the Civil Aviation Authority said in their official statement.
This incident is part of a worrying series of bomb threats that have targeted Indian airlines recently. On Friday, another Vistara flight (UK17) from Delhi to London was diverted to Frankfurt due to a similar threat. Security checks were conducted, but no explosives were found. Additionally, on Saturday, an Air India Express flight (IX-196) from Dubai to Jaipur faced a bomb scare, leading to an emergency landing at Jaipur International Airport.
Authorities are investigating these incidents, and so far, none of the threats have resulted in the discovery of any explosives. Despite the scares, all passengers and crew on these flights have been unharmed.
X Message from Sri Lanka’s Civil Aviation Authority
https://x.com/BIA_SriLanka/status/1847600106549207449
