AUCKLAND- The flag carrier Air New Zealand (NZ) flight from Wellington (WLG) has safely landed at Sydney Airport (SYD) after it received a bomb threat.
Flight Number NZ247, arriving from Wellington, touched down at approximately 5:40 PM local time (7:40 PM NZT).
Air New Zealand Flight Bomb Threat
In response, a tactical operations unit, paramedics, and firefighters were deployed to the scene. The aircraft carried 154 staff and passengers.
Numerous Australian news sources indicated that the substantial emergency services response was triggered by the bomb scare.
Journalist Brian Wilson reported that the aircraft halted on a utility taxiway, positioned away from the airport terminals, and remained there for over an hour before taxiing to the international terminal, where Federal Police awaited its arrival.
Captain David Morgan, Air New Zealand’s chief operational integrity and safety officer, confirmed the airline’s awareness of the security incident and stated, “We are working with the local authorities and following standard protocols established for such incidents.”
7News noted that no individuals had been observed exiting the A320 since its landing. Up to 40 emergency service vehicles were present, including bomb squad units and armed police.
Additionally, it appeared that other planes at the airport entered a holding pattern during the aircraft’s landing, as reported by 7News.
By around 9:15 PM, 9News indicated that emergency services began to stand down. This incident occurred just one day after King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived at Sydney Airport for a tour of Australia.
Series of Bomb Threats in India
This comes as Indian Airlines International and domestic flights are receiving multiple bomb threats.
Indian Airlines has received around 50 Bomb Threats this week. The Ministry of Civil Aviation of India has deployed more air marshals in flights to handle situations onboard.
Earlier it was reported that Mumbai police detained a 17-year-old (teen) boy who disrupted multiple international flights by posting bomb threats on social media platform X.
The threats forced Air India (AI) and IndiGo Airlines (6E) to delay and divert several flights.
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu announced aggressive law enforcement action against perpetrators of recent airline bomb threats.
Indian airlines are facing significant financial challenges due to multiple bomb threat hoaxes, with each emergency diversion costing between Rs 13-17 lakh. These incidents not only create anxiety among passengers but also disrupt normal operations.
Aviation industry experts emphasize the growing need for a robust strategy to address these false threats effectively and minimize their operational impact.
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