Bomb scare at Eastern Cape airport prompts emergency response

Police have activated a multidisciplinary response team following a bomb threat at King Phalo International Airport in KuGompo City in the Eastern Cape.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana said officers received an anonymous call alleging that a bomb was on board FlySafair flight FA388 that had landed at the airport from Johannesburg.

All 182 passengers and six crew members safely disembarked from the aircraft, with authorities now managing the scene and investigating the origin of the threat.

Bomb disposal unit and K9 dogs deployed

Gantana confirmed that a multidisciplinary response team had been activated and was at the airport.

The response includes the Bomb Disposal Unit, K9 explosive detection dogs, hostage negotiators, Disaster Management, Airport Security and Emergency Medical Services.

“The scene is being managed by the relevant authorities, and investigations into the origin of the threat are ongoing. No further information is available at this stage,” Gantana said.

Investigation underway

Police have not provided further details about the aircraft, the nature of the alleged threat or whether any suspicious items have been found.

The investigation into the anonymous call is continuing.

Authorities have yet to release additional information about the incident or indicate when normal operations at the airport will resume.

Full FlySafair statement

FlySafair confirms that it was informed of a potential security threat relating to flight FA388, operating from Johannesburg to East London this morning, with 182 passengers and 6 crew on board.

The aircraft continued its journey and landed safely at King Phalo Airport at 08:49. All passengers have since safely disembarked.

All relevant authorities were informed immediately, and we are cooperating fully with them. As confirmed in the media statement issued by the Office of the SAPS Provincial Commissioner, Eastern Cape, a multi-disciplinary response team is on site, and the aircraft is being held as part of standard security protocols. The scene is being managed by the authorities, with the support of King Phalo Airport.

There have been no flight cancellations as a result of this incident, and all other FlySafair operations are running as normal.

We thank our crew and ground staff for managing the situation calmly and in line with established safety and security procedures. We also apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank our passengers for their patience and understanding.

We extend our sincere thanks to the South African Police Service, King Phalo Airport and all the emergency and security teams on site for their swift and professional response.

As this is an active investigation, we are unable to comment further at this stage. Enquiries relating to the investigation should be directed to SAPS: Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana, 082 337 9402.

The safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority.

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