Sydney
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Sydney
Threat made on Sydney-bound flight
17, 2006 - 9:52PM
About 100 passengers were evacuated from a plane at Australia's largest airport tonight after an anonymous caller warned there was a suspicious package on board.
NSW Bomb Squad officers scoured the Pacific Blue 737, which landed at Sydney airport from Fiji, but found nothing and the search was called off at 7.45pm (AEST).
The plane was parked away from the terminal while an exhaustive search was carried out. Passengers were herded off the plane and separated into groups to be screened by security officials.
Australian Federal Police said an anonymous caller had warned there was a device aboard the plane. The call was received by the Pacific Blue call centre, which is located in the Philippines, an AFP spokeswoman said. But she would not say where the call had originated from.
Chief Superintendent Andres Caro, who heads the police Aviation Security Group in the Philippines, told AP he was not aware of a threat being made against the plane.
The security scare comes just two weeks after British authorities foiled a plot to bomb as many as 10 trans-Atlantic flights, forcing airports around the world to tighten their security procedures.
"Police received unconfirmed reports earlier today that a suspicious device was on board the plane," a NSW police spokesman said.
"Following an extensive search, nil items were found and the all-clear was given at 7.45pm.
"The aircraft, which arrived at 5.40pm (AEST) today, was located away from the terminal area whilst the search was conducted.
"Passengers were removed the aircraft while authorities assessed the situation."
One passenger, Daniela Psiender, of Sydney, said everything had seemed to go as normal on the flight, until those aboard were made to wait for an hour on the plane after landing.
Ms Psiender said after originally being told they were waiting for a gate, a woman had told her there had been a bomb threat.
"They took us to a room and we had to line up like bloody criminals," Ms Psiender said.
"Dogs came and all that.
"Then there were two groups and I was in the second group and they let the second group go.
"They said we were the good guys.
"The other group, I don't know what happened to them."
A Sydney airport spokesman said the situation had been resolved, and the incident had not interfered with airport operations.
"That situation has been finalised," a Sydney airport spokesman said.
"There were no operation impacts. The east-west runway (where the plane was parked) is generally not used at this time of night and under the prevailing winds."
- agencies
17, 2006 - 9:52PM
About 100 passengers were evacuated from a plane at Australia's largest airport tonight after an anonymous caller warned there was a suspicious package on board.
NSW Bomb Squad officers scoured the Pacific Blue 737, which landed at Sydney airport from Fiji, but found nothing and the search was called off at 7.45pm (AEST).
The plane was parked away from the terminal while an exhaustive search was carried out. Passengers were herded off the plane and separated into groups to be screened by security officials.
Australian Federal Police said an anonymous caller had warned there was a device aboard the plane. The call was received by the Pacific Blue call centre, which is located in the Philippines, an AFP spokeswoman said. But she would not say where the call had originated from.
Chief Superintendent Andres Caro, who heads the police Aviation Security Group in the Philippines, told AP he was not aware of a threat being made against the plane.
The security scare comes just two weeks after British authorities foiled a plot to bomb as many as 10 trans-Atlantic flights, forcing airports around the world to tighten their security procedures.
"Police received unconfirmed reports earlier today that a suspicious device was on board the plane," a NSW police spokesman said.
"Following an extensive search, nil items were found and the all-clear was given at 7.45pm.
"The aircraft, which arrived at 5.40pm (AEST) today, was located away from the terminal area whilst the search was conducted.
"Passengers were removed the aircraft while authorities assessed the situation."
One passenger, Daniela Psiender, of Sydney, said everything had seemed to go as normal on the flight, until those aboard were made to wait for an hour on the plane after landing.
Ms Psiender said after originally being told they were waiting for a gate, a woman had told her there had been a bomb threat.
"They took us to a room and we had to line up like bloody criminals," Ms Psiender said.
"Dogs came and all that.
"Then there were two groups and I was in the second group and they let the second group go.
"They said we were the good guys.
"The other group, I don't know what happened to them."
A Sydney airport spokesman said the situation had been resolved, and the incident had not interfered with airport operations.
"That situation has been finalised," a Sydney airport spokesman said.
"There were no operation impacts. The east-west runway (where the plane was parked) is generally not used at this time of night and under the prevailing winds."
- agencies
