A Ryanair flight from Manchester to Murcia landed safely in Spain this morning after a reported bomb threat involving the aircraft.
The Boeing 737-8200, registered EI-IGO, operated the scheduled service under the callsign RYR61UN. Aviation news page Cheshire Flight first reported the incident.
Spanish police and specialist bomb disposal teams met the aircraft on arrival. No explosives have been reported as found.
The Flight From Manchester
The aircraft departed Manchester Airport at 07:11 GMT on Tuesday 3 November. It touched down at Región de Murcia International Airport in Corvera at 10:31 local time.
The flight took around two hours and 20 minutes. That put the aircraft on the ground roughly 24 minutes ahead of schedule.
Reports state that 114 passengers and seven crew members were on board. All passengers have since left the aircraft safely.
Emergency Response in Murcia
Officers from the Guardia Civil responded to the incident on the flight that came from Manchester. The force holds responsibility for security at Spanish airports.
Specialist bomb disposal teams then deployed to inspect the aircraft. The airport also activated its emergency protocols, placing police, firefighters and medical teams on alert.
Spanish airports follow this response whenever a threat is reported, regardless of how likely it is to be genuine.
There was no information at the time of writing on how the threat was received or who made it.
Two Further Threats in Warsaw
The Manchester incident came on the same day as two other reported bomb threats. Both involved aircraft arriving in Warsaw, Poland, one operated by SAS and the other by LOT Polish Airlines.
There is currently no confirmed link between the three incidents. No explosives have been reported in either Warsaw case.
How Airlines Handle a Bomb Threat
Airlines, like with the Manchester incident, treat every bomb threat as genuine until security teams prove otherwise. That rule holds even though the vast majority turn out to be hoaxes.
When a threat comes to light during a flight, the crew alerts air traffic control and works through set security procedures. The flight usually receives priority handling to the nearest suitable airport or its destination.
On the ground, authorities commonly direct the aircraft to a remote stand away from the terminal. Police then search the cabin, the hold and the baggage before they release the aircraft.
Passengers often face lengthy delays while officers complete their checks. Anyone linked to the threat can expect questioning.
A Serious Offence
Making a hoax bomb threat is a criminal offence in both the UK and Spain.
Offenders can face prison sentences as well as heavy fines.
Airlines also count the cost.
Emergency responses tie up aircraft, crews and airport resources, and disruption can spread across the rest of the day’s schedule.
A Safe Outcome on The Flight from Manchester
The aircraft landed without incident and every passenger disembarked safely. Investigators will now work to establish the source of the threat.
The Aviation Hub will update this story as more details emerge.
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