Nothing suspicious found on Moscow-Goa flight after bomb threat

No threats have been found on a Moscow-Goa flight that was diverted to Gujarat’s Jamnagar Monday after a bomb scare, news agency ANI said this morning.

The flight is expected to leave for Goa by 11am, ANI said citing the Jamnagar airport director, who said all bags had been thoroughly checked.

All the passengers and crew members aboard the flight are safe, Jamnagar Collector Saurabh Parghi said. The airport was cordoned off by security agencies for nine hours and intensive checking of the aircraft was done, he added.

>The Goa-bound Azur Air flight was diverted to Jamnagar, Gujarat following a bomb threat received by the Goa Air traffic controller. All 236 passengers and crew members were evacuated safely.

>The plane was checked by local authorities, along with police and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), Inspector General of Police (Rajkot and Jamnagar Range) Ashok Kumar Yadav was quoted by ANI.

>The Russian Embassy later issued a statement saying that they were alerted by the Indian authorities about the alleged bomb scare on the flight.

“The Embassy was alerted by Indian authorities about alleged bomb scare on Azur Air flight from Moscow to Goa. The aircraft made an emergency landing at Jamnagar Indian Air Force Base. Everyone on board is safe; authorities conducting an inspection of the aircraft,” the Russian Embassy said.

>A Goa Police officer said the flight was supposed to land at the Dabolim airport in the coastal state and that security in and around the airport had been beefed up as a precautionary measure.

>All the emergency services were kept on standby at the airport as senior police officers held a meeting with the airport officials last night, reported news agency PTI.