The threat came weeks after an EgyptAir plane crashed into
the Mediterranean Sea
An EgyptAir plane has made an emergency landing in
Uzbekistan after receiving a bomb threat in a suspected hoax during its flight
from Cairo to Beijing.
In a statement, Uzbekistan Airways said “information was
received about a possible explosive device on board” in the early hours of
Wednesday morning.
Officials told the Associated Press say said an anonymous
person called security agents at Cairo airport claiming there was a bomb on the
plane.
All 118 passengers and 17 crew members on board were safely
evacuated after the Airbus A330 landed at Urgench International Airport, where
security services examined the plane.
Searches found no evidence of explosives, an Egyptian
official said, adding: “The plane is preparing to resume its journey. It was a
hoax, thank God."
Data from the FlightRadar24 tracking website showed EgyptAir
flight 955 left Cairo at 23.20pm local time (10.20pm BST) on Tuesday and
travelled across countries including Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan before
making its diversion around three hours into the journey.
A spokesperson for EgyptAir said authorities in Cairo made a
satellite call to the pilot requesting him to land at the nearest airport
"in accordance with international safety and security measures".
"All necessary procedures are currently underway for
the resuming of the flight to Beijing airport from Urgench International
Airport," he added.
--AP
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