Medan, June 17 (Alliance News): A Saudia Airlines flight carrying 442 Hajj pilgrims from Jeddah to Jakarta was diverted to Kualanamu International Airport in Medan on Tuesday following a bomb threat, Indonesian aviation authorities confirmed.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said the threat was received via email at 07:30 am (0030 GMT) from an unidentified sender, claiming a bomb was on board flight SV 5276. In response, the pilot redirected the flight—originally headed for Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport—shortly after 10:00 am.
The flight included 207 men and 235 women returning from Hajj. Upon landing in Medan, passengers were safely evacuated while a bomb disposal unit inspected the aircraft for any explosive materials. As of Tuesday afternoon, the plane remained grounded in Medan.
InJourney Airports, which manages Indonesian airports, stated the pilot took the precautionary measure “upon identifying security and safety threats.”
The Indonesian transport ministry and local authorities continue to investigate the source of the threat.
