Indian passenger plane makes emergency landing in Turkiye after bomb threat

ISTANBUL: A flight operated by India’s Vistara Airlines made an emergency landing on Friday around 4.30 pm (1330 GMT) in Erzurum in eastern Turkiye after a piece of paper with “bomb on board” written on it was found in a lavatory, Turkish officials said.

Two bomb disposal experts and one search dog were continuing to search the aircraft, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on social media platform X, adding that 234 passengers and 13 crew had been safely evacuated.

“Vistara flight UK 27 operating from Mumbai to Frankfurt has been diverted to Turkiye due to a security concern that was noted by our crew while onboard,” a Vistara spokesperson told Reuters, confirming the aircraft had landed at Erzurum.