Turkish Airlines plane diverted to Canada after bomb threat: Police

November 23, 2015 | 09:25

(0) user say

A Turkish Airlines flight from New York to Istanbul had to divert to Canada following a bomb threat.

A Turkish Airlines aircraft takes off from Ataturk Airport in Istanbul. (Photo: AFP/OZAN KOSE)

TORONTO: A Turkish Airlines plane flying from New York to Istanbul was diverted to Canada on Sunday (Nov 22) because of a bomb threat, police said.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said the plane, with 256 passengers and crew, landed safely at Halifax Stanfield International Airport.

"RCMP is looking to establish the origin of the threat and identify the person or persons responsible," it said on Twitter.

Officials said they would provide no details on the bomb threat. "This will form part of the investigation," the RCMP's Nova Scotia branch said.

Authorities received the bomb threat late Saturday at 22:50 (0250 GMT) after the plane had departed New York's John F Kennedy International Airport. The aircraft landed in Halifax shortly before 0100 (0500 GMT).

The RCMP, in a series of statements on Twitter, said the process of transferring passengers to the terminal was going "smoothly".

Police will be "searching the Turkish Airlines plane using police dogs trained in explosives", it said. "Luggage will also be searched by police dogs," the RCMP added.

The bomb threat comes as aviation officials are on high alert for possible acts of terror, following the November 13 attacks in Paris that left 130 people dead and hundreds injured.

The latest threat follows incidents last Tuesday when two Air France planes flying from the US to Paris were diverted because of similar bomb scares. Those planes were forced to land in Halifax and in Salt Lake City, Utah, but officials said no explosives were found on either flight.

Law enforcement officials in the United States and Canada are investigating both incidents, authorities said.

AFP

What the stars mean:

★ Poor ★ ★ Promising ★★★ Good ★★★★ Very good ★★★★★ Exceptional