Erzurum Governor Mustafa Çiftçi announced that the search of the Vistara Airlines passenger plane, which made an emergency landing at Erzurum Airport due to a bomb threat while en route from India to Germany, is continuing with the support of bomb disposal experts and bomb-sniffing dogs.
According to the information received, following the emergency landing of the plane at Erzurum Airport, the Provincial Disaster and Emergency Directorate (AFAD), health, police and fire teams were dispatched to the airport.
It was learned that the passengers on the plane were evacuated and a detailed search was launched in the cabin and cargo compartment.
AFAD teams searched the passengers who were evacuated from the plane and transported them to the airport in vehicles.
Passengers will be served refreshments by the teams and will rest until the procedures are completed.
Erzurum Governor Mustafa Çiftçi is following the work closely.
Two bomb disposal experts and a bomb detection dog are searching the plane with the teams.
There are 100 security personnel, 14 ambulances with 54 personnel, 3 National Medical Rescue Teams (UMKE), 28 personnel with 7 rescue and 2 CBRN vehicles, 24 firefighters with 6 vehicles, 1 crime scene investigation and 1 translator on duty at the airport.
“Erzurum airspace closed to flights”
Erzurum Governor Mustafa Çiftçi told AA correspondent that there were 247 passengers and crew on the plane.
Çiftçi said, “The teams are currently on the field, searching for the suitcases. AFAD teams have safely evacuated the passengers. Security, police special operations, all our teams are on the field. All our teams have taken security measures inside and around the plane. Erzurum airspace has been closed to flights.”
One of the passengers reported the incident by writing on a napkin, “There is a bomb on the plane.”
Governor Çiftçi said that one of the passengers wrote “there is a bomb on the plane” on a napkin and gave it to the cabin crew, and that is how the notification took place.
Çiftçi, who stated that they will continue with other procedures after the current risk is eliminated, said, “When an Indian Airlines plane goes from India to Germany, it first wants to land in Ordu when this situation arises. However, since the renovation work at the airport there is ongoing, they want to land in Trabzon and since the air traffic is heavy there, it is directed to Erzurum. So the plane lands at Erzurum Airport.”
Çiftçi pointed out that Erzurum Airport was closed to landings and takeoffs and said, “After the plane is searched and the luggage is checked, if any negative report is found, we will place the passengers on the plane with their luggage again. We will send them from here and then the emergency situation will be over.”
Governor Çiftçi made a statement at the airport
Çiftçi, in his statement at Erzurum Airport, recalled that the passenger plane belonging to Indian Vistara Airlines had to make an emergency landing at Erzurum Airport at around 16:30 after receiving a bomb threat while on a Mumbai-Frankfurt flight.
Çiftçi stated that all 234 passengers and 13 crew members on the plane were safely evacuated after landing at the airport, and that the passengers were taken to the airport building where they were taken for rest after searches were carried out.
Governor Çiftçi continued as follows:
“Following the evacuation of the passengers from the plane, our two bomb disposal experts and a bomb detection dog are currently continuing their search inside the plane. The first section at the front of the plane has been completed. In the meantime, we requested another bomb detection dog from our gendarmerie command, thinking that the work could be extended. The search inside the plane is continuing with the two detection dogs.
After this work is completed, all the luggage below will be lowered to the runway. Our search dogs will also search the luggage there. After completing these, the cabin will be scanned if the bomb threat is unfounded, the passengers will be taken back on the plane. Since an emergency has been declared until 21:00, all landings and takeoffs at our airport have been suspended. After this work is completed, the plane is sent off and the emergency is over, landings and takeoffs at our airport will be able to continue.
Çiftçi stated that the passengers did not have any health problems and that no information could be obtained about the person who left the note.
#Plane #Emergency #Landing #Erzurum #Bomb #Scare
2024-09-07 08:49:55