An emergency situation at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), declared following a bomb scare on an Indian passenger flight, has bee...
An emergency situation at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), declared following a bomb scare on an Indian passenger flight, has been officially called off after thorough investigations found no suspicious items or threats. The incident unfolded earlier today when a Vistara flight arriving from Mumbai made an emergency landing at BIA due to a reported bomb threat.
According to a statement issued by BIA’s management, all necessary precautionary and preventive measures were immediately put into action by the airport authorities and relevant security agencies. This included a swift evacuation of all 96 passengers and 8 crew members from the aircraft, ensuring their safety while a special search operation was conducted.
The emergency was declared after a nonspecific call was made to the captain of Vistara flight UK 131 (A320 Neo) just 10 minutes before landing, alerting him to a potential bomb threat. The flight was scheduled to land at 14:51 hrs, and despite the bomb scare, the aircraft touched down safely at 14:49 hrs.
Following the landing, the passengers were swiftly evacuated from the aircraft to the passenger terminal as a precaution, while authorities commenced an exhaustive search of the plane and the surrounding area. Sri Lanka’s Police Spokesman, DIG Nihal Thalduwa, confirmed that a comprehensive investigation was launched to verify the validity of the threat.
The Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL) reported that all standard safety protocols were followed. After a thorough inspection, no suspicious items were discovered, and it was confirmed that the reported bomb scare posed no real threat. Subsequently, the emergency status at the airport was lifted, and operations at BIA resumed as normal.
The airport management reassured travelers and airport users that there were no disruptions to flight operations and expressed their regret for any inconvenience caused. “We sincerely regret any inconvenience this situation may have caused to our valued guests and airport users and appreciate their understanding,” the statement read.
In light of the situation, the swift and effective response by BIA authorities, in coordination with Sri Lanka’s security services, ensured that the safety and security of all passengers and staff were prioritized throughout the ordeal.
Today’s incident marks another example of the meticulous safety protocols in place at Bandaranaike International Airport, designed to handle potential threats with efficiency and care, reaffirming the airport's commitment to the security of its passengers.
As of now, all flight operations continue as usual at BIA, and the airport remains open and fully operational.
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