Fighter jets had been scrambled to escort the airplane travelling from Cardiff to the Canary Islands after the bomb risk, earlier than it made an emergency touchdown
A planeload of passengers travelling from Cardiff to Spain had been faraway from their flight by bomb squad officers. Earlier, fighter jets had been scrambled to escort the airplane after a threatening be aware was discovered within the TUI plane’s restroom.
Spain’s Civil Guard was known as on Thursday morning (June 19) after a crew member handed the be aware to the pilot of the Cardiff-Lanzarote TUI flight TOM6422, because it flew over Portugal. Learn the most important tales in Wales first by signing as much as our every day e-newsletter right here
The airplane was rapidly diverted and landed at César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport, the place it was met by bomb specialists from the GEDEX (Explosives Deactivation Group) in addition to a variety of different specialised items.
A spokesperson for Cardiff Airport instructed WalesOnline that no issues or suspicious exercise had been raised previous to the airplane’s departure.
Portuguese fighter jets had been scrambled following the risk, with the airplane escorted to the airport, experiences the Mirror.
The Guardia Civil’s Fiscal and Border Part was known as to the scene alongside its investigation groups and safety patrols. The Canarian Weekly reported that air visitors controllers acknowledged on social media the passengers had been requested to determine their belongings.
Controllers writing on one X account stated: “The airplane has been guided with the presence of firefighters to a siding the place the passengers have needed to determine their baggage.”
“Touchdown and takeoff operations have been quickly interrupted, which has induced some delays.”
A spokesperson for the Portuguese Air Pressure stated in an announcement that two F-16M jets on everlasting alert had been deployed from Air Base quantity 5 in Monte Actual to intercept and escort the airplane.
Fighter pilots had been required to watch the state of affairs because the TUI jet handed by Portuguese airspace, escorting it safely to its vacation spot in Lanzarote.
The army stated: “With the F-16Ms already monitoring the state of affairs to make sure the protection and good administration of nationwide airspace, the crew of the civilian plane determined to proceed the flight to the vacation spot airport, exterior nationwide territory.”
“Upon leaving the nationwide flight data area, accountability handed to Spain, with the Portuguese F-16Ms finishing up the handover of the mission and subsequent return to Monte Actual.”
Regardless of the full-on response, officers ultimately found there was no explosive system aboard, and native police have now launched an pressing investigation to find out who wrote the letter discovered within the rest room.
Sources instructed La Voz de Lanzarote that the plane raised the alarm a couple of attainable bomb, however the alert was finally cancelled as soon as it was decided there was no credible risk.
Whereas the incident was rapidly resolved following the alert on Thursday morning, departures on the Lanzarote airport had been delayed as investigators labored on the scene.
A spokesperson for Cardiff Airport stated: “We’re conscious of an incident involving flight TOM6422 from Cardiff to Lanzarote on 19/06/25. The security of our passengers is our primary precedence. No issues or suspicious exercise had been raised previous to departure.”
Had been you on the flight? Contact ellie.gosley@reachplc.com
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