Turkish plane declared safe for take off after emergency landing in Delhi over 'bomb threat'

New Delhi: The Turkish Airlines flight which made an emergency landing at the Indira Gandhi Internationl Airport in New Delhi on Tuesday after a pilot reported a ‘bomb threat’ was declared safe and ready to take off.

Aviation authorities said that no explosives were detected and that the questioning of 134 passengers travelling by the aircraft was over. The authorities added that the flight would take off by 10.30 pm.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma said NSG and bomb disposal squad were pressed into service immediately after the flight landed. "No explosive was found inside the cabin. The cargo portion is being checked," he said. He said the entire area was cordoned off and the fire brigade was alerted.

Read: Turkish Airlines flight makes emergency landing at Delhi airport after ‘bomb threat’

The Istanbul-bound Turkish Airlines flight from Bangkok with 148 people onboard landed at the airport under full emergency conditions due to the bomb scare.

"The pilot was informed of a message written with lipstick on the mirror of one of the plane's washrooms that there was a bomb in the cargo hold of the aircraft, leading the pilot to seek Nagpur ATC's permission to land the aircraft there. He directed the pilot to approach the Delhi ATC," the sources said.

Following this, the aircraft was diverted to Delhi and where it landed at 1341 hours, they added.