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A passenger plane flying from Turkey’s capital Ankara to the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa landed safely Monday evening after a note claiming an explosive
device was on board was discovered, local authorities said. AJet Flight 4180 departed Ankara at 7 PM local time and landed at Şanlıurfa GAP Airport at 8:05 PM, according to Şanlıurfa Governor Hasan Şıldak. The aircraft was carrying 136 passengers and seven crew members. After the plane landed, all passengers and crew members were safely evacuated. Security units then began a detailed search of the aircraft for possible explosives.
Airport Temporarily Closed During Security Operation
Şıldak said all necessary measures had been taken to ensure the safe evacuation of everyone aboard the aircraft. Şanlıurfa GAP Airport was temporarily closed to flight operations while security teams searched the plane. According to reports, bomb-disposal specialists were involved in the inspection.
Flight-tracking data indicated that several aircraft were diverted to nearby airports instead of landing at Şanlıurfa while the security operation was underway.
The governor later provided an update on the search, saying authorities had found no indication of an explosive device or other irregularity.
“The search for explosive materials conducted on the aircraft has been completed, and no irregularities have been detected,” Şıldak said.
Following the evaluation, Şanlıurfa GAP Airport was reopened to air traffic.
The incident comes amid several recent aviation emergencies. On September 30, Flydubai Flight FZ1073 was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after a co-pilot attacked the captain aboard the aircraft.
On October 5, British Airways Flight BA295, traveling from London Heathrow to Chicago O'Hare, declared a general emergency and later turned back toward London after a rapid descent.
An Emirates A380 flight on October 1 also declared an emergency and diverted to Frankfurt, Germany, after a passenger experienced a severe medical emergency.
In the Şanlıurfa incident, however, the aircraft landed safely and authorities said their subsequent search found no explosives.
