Sick Squid
22nd Dec 2002, 01:31
SKY reporting that an attempt to amuggle an explosive device aboard a Royal Jordanian aircraft in Abu Dhabi has been foiled. Apparently an international flight on it's way to Dubai.
That's all at the moment...
gulf_slf
22nd Dec 2002, 05:38
Radio reports in the UAE state that 2 males (probably Libyan) are being questioned.
AUH authorities reamining tight lipped on the incident and will issue a statement later.
Usual reticent response to clarifying matters on the ground and retoring confidence to the airlines and tavellers at this busy time of year!:(
Hearing flights ex - DXB this morning are running late with a/c being held on the ground for up to an hour ( reported from a mate on EK to MCT ...less than 45 mins away!)...
Not sure if there is any link to the events down the coast in AUH....
Airbubba
22nd Dec 2002, 09:42
Looks like a not unusual disruptive Arab pax story:
UAE Detains Two for Jordanian Plane Bomb Hoax
By REUTERS
Filed at 4:54 a.m. ET
ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Security officers in Abu Dhabi detained on Sunday two male passengers who angrily threatened to blow up a Royal Jordanian Airlines plane because they were unhappy with the inflight meal.
The official UAE news agency said that during an argument with a crew member, the disgruntled passengers said that if they had a bomb, they would blow up the plane. Guards on board the plane promptly seized the men who are currently being held at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the United Arab Emirates.
The incident comes at a time of heightened security concerns in the Gulf region and rising tension as the United States threatens military action against Iraq if it does not disarm.
Abu Dhabi airport Director Khaled al-Muhairabi told Reuters the men were being detained for the hoax.
"We received information there was a bomb on board, the plane was taken to an isolated area and searched and nothing was found,'' he said. "Two passengers were detained and they are in custody. They are detained for issuing a threat.''
The flight, with 173 passengers and crew on board, was bound for Dubai from Amman via Abu Dhabi. Civil aviation officials confirmed the plane landed at Dubai airport but prevented the media from speaking to the passengers or crew.
Jordan's official news agency Petra identified the men as Mohammad Ramadan and Abdul Naser Faraj and said both were Libyans. It said they were transit passengers from Tripoli.
"A few minutes before landing in Abu Dhabi one of the Libyan passengers Mohammad Ramadan said they had bombs and planned to hijack the plane,'' Petra said.
In Amman, Royal Jordanian President and CEO Samer Majali told Reuters the incident was a prank.
"We are very relieved,'' he said. "We are awaiting a full report from the Abu Dhabi authorities on the incident. Jordanian authorities will be fully involved in the investigations as soon as is practically possible.''
FEARS OF QAEDA LINK
Gulf Arab states and Jordan have pledged their support to the United States in its war on terrorism since the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York and Washington.
A statement on the official UAE news agency WAM detailed the incident, confirming there were no explosives on board.
"About 17 miles off Abu Dhabi, the pilot sent a warning saying there was a possible bomb on board. The plane landed, it and the passengers were searched and at about 7 a.m., it was declared clear. It was all a hoax,'' a UAE official added.
Two alleged operatives from the al Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden were arrested in Jordan earlier this month on suspicion of killing an American diplomat in Amman in October.
Muhairabi said the incident caused minor disruption to air traffic at the airport, which was light due to the early hour. Witnesses said officials initially canceled all flights.
Royal Jordanian Airlines flight 602, an Airbus A-340, landed in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, early on Sunday. Abu Dhabi and all Gulf airports enforce tight security. Royal Jordanian Airlines usually has two sky marshals on board its planes.
AtlPax
22nd Dec 2002, 21:52
(snip) ... angrily threatened to blow up a Royal Jordanian Airlines plane because they were unhappy with the inflight meal.
Sheesh - was the meal that bad? :rolleyes:
Hummingfrog
23rd Dec 2002, 06:50
I could understand it if they had been served the "deli-meal" you usually get on the BA franchise from Aberdeen to Manchester - a cheese roll - yuck.
HF