JOHOR BARU: It was an April Fool's prank that came a day too late. But it was a scary joke as the captain of a Tawau-bound plane was forced to abort the flight and evacuate all 91 passengers and five crewmembers on board.
An official of the Sultan Ismail International Airport in Senai said a flight steward was carrying out a safety demonstration just before the plane was about to take off at 4.40pm when a passenger suddenly got out from his seat and told him he wanted to get off.
He said there was a bomb on board.
The steward immediately alerted the captain, who then radioed for help, including from the airport’s bomb disposal unit.
The captain then taxied the plane to the edge of the runway and airport security staff rushed to the plane and detained the 31-year-old man.
The other passengers of Flight AK5632 were then told to leave the aircraft, which they did so without panicking.
The disposal unit then searched the plane but did not find any bomb on the aircraft. There were also no casualties.
“This is the first time such an incident has occurred in over five years,” said the official.
He assured that security was tight at the airport and it was difficult for anyone to smuggle any dangerous items into planes.
As a result of the incident, it is learnt that all in-coming flights were delayed for about two hours.
At least two Kuala Lumpur-bound flights were also delayed.
Flight AK5632 was allowed to resume its journey at 8.30pm.
Police are investigating the man under the Civil Aviation Act and Regulations, 1969 for endangering the lives of those on board.
Johor Baru (North) OCPD Asst Comm Johari Yahya said the bomb disposal unit rushed to the scene as soon as they were alerted.
“We searched the aircraft but did not find anything suspicious,” he said, adding that two fire engines had been put on standby.
Source
An official of the Sultan Ismail International Airport in Senai said a flight steward was carrying out a safety demonstration just before the plane was about to take off at 4.40pm when a passenger suddenly got out from his seat and told him he wanted to get off.
He said there was a bomb on board.
The steward immediately alerted the captain, who then radioed for help, including from the airport’s bomb disposal unit.
The captain then taxied the plane to the edge of the runway and airport security staff rushed to the plane and detained the 31-year-old man.
The other passengers of Flight AK5632 were then told to leave the aircraft, which they did so without panicking.
The disposal unit then searched the plane but did not find any bomb on the aircraft. There were also no casualties.
“This is the first time such an incident has occurred in over five years,” said the official.
He assured that security was tight at the airport and it was difficult for anyone to smuggle any dangerous items into planes.
As a result of the incident, it is learnt that all in-coming flights were delayed for about two hours.
At least two Kuala Lumpur-bound flights were also delayed.
Flight AK5632 was allowed to resume its journey at 8.30pm.
Police are investigating the man under the Civil Aviation Act and Regulations, 1969 for endangering the lives of those on board.
Johor Baru (North) OCPD Asst Comm Johari Yahya said the bomb disposal unit rushed to the scene as soon as they were alerted.
“We searched the aircraft but did not find anything suspicious,” he said, adding that two fire engines had been put on standby.
Source
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