Plane evacuated after bomb scare

5 January 2004

MALAGA – Nearly 200 passengers and crew of an Iberia airlines flight between Málaga and Barcelona were evacuated after a bomb threat, it was reported Monday.

A letter containing a bomb threat was found by airport staff at Malaga and the Boeing 727 was delayed while security checks were being carried out. The threat turned out to be a hoax.

The drama started when several passengers reported being asked to return to the terminal after the captain announced ‘technical problems’.

The flight, which was scheduled for take-off on Sunday  at 6.05pm,  was  delayed for more than three hours while  a thorough inspection was carried out.

After evacuating the plane, all  luggage and the inside and outside of the plane was thoroughly searched by members of the bomb squad using  sniffer-dogs, and with the help of airport security staff.

Once the scare was confirmed to be a hoax, most of the passengers reboarded and the flight was resumed.

But at  least 15 people decided not to fly.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news