An aircraft carrying 184 passengers was grounded at King Phalo Airport in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province on Wednesday following a reported bomb threat.
The passengers were safely evacuated after an unidentified caller allegedly reported that a bomb was on board the aircraft. No injuries were reported during the evacuation.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed that security agencies responded immediately, deploying a multidisciplinary team to assess the threat and secure the aircraft.
The team included bomb disposal experts, explosive-detection dogs, hostage negotiators, disaster management personnel, airport security officials and emergency medical services.
Police said the aircraft remained at King Phalo Airport while officers carried out security checks in line with established procedures.
Authorities also inspected areas around the aircraft and other affected parts of the airport as investigators worked to determine the credibility and source of the reported threat.
As of the time of reporting, police had not confirmed whether an explosive device or suspicious material had been found on board.
The authorities also did not provide details about the identity of the caller or whether any arrests had been made in connection with the incident.
SAPS appealed to members of the public to avoid speculation and refrain from sharing unverified information while the investigation continued.
The police said further details would be released as they became available.
King Phalo Airport serves East London and surrounding communities in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province. Authorities had yet to confirm whether the security operation would cause additional flight delays or cancellations.
