A Turkish passenger plane has been diverted to Ireland after
officials discovered a handwritten bomb threat on board the flight.
Turkish Airlines flight TK-34 departed from Houston, Texas
just after 9pm local time on Saturday and was due to land in Istanbul at around
3.45pm Irish time on Sunday.
However, the aircraft made an emergency landing at Shannon
Airport at around 11.20pm after the note was reportedly discovered.
After the plane landed, it was taken to a remote taxiway
while the passengers were escorted to the terminal by bus.
The jet is due to remain at the airport until at least its
scheduled flight time has passed.
Authorities will then search the plane for explosives.
The note has been taken by Irish Police as evidence. It will
be compared to samples of handwriting from passengers.
Fire, ambulance and coastguard crews were alerted to the
diversion while the plane was two hours away from landing for an emergency plan
to be put in place.
A spokeswoman for Shannon airport said police were
investigating the “security issue”.
Turkish Airlines spokesman Yahya Ustun said Turkish
Airlines Houston-Istanbul flight (TK34, B777 Aircraft, carrying 207 passenger
and 2 infant) today has diverted to Shannon Airport (SNN), Ireland, following a
bomb alert.
"The necessary investigation onboard is continuing and
the flight will continue to its destination after the termination of the
required processes."
Bomb threat on London to Stockholm plane forces emergency
landing
It comes after a flight from London to Stockholm was forced
to make an emergency landing on Friday after a bomb threat.
The 72-passenger Scandinavian Airlines flight SK1530 from
Heathrow was diverted to Gothenburg where the plane was searched.
Police said a threat was made to air traffic controllers
while the flight was mid-air.
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