Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Russia Aeroflot flight lands in Iceland after bomb threat

 

Anna Andersen
Thursday 16 August 2012 09:30 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

An Aeroflot plane carrying 256 people from New York to Moscow made an unscheduled landing in Iceland following a report of a bomb on board, authorities said.

The plane, an Airbus A330, landed at Iceland's Keflavik International Airport where baggage and passengers were being inspected as part of the search for explosives.

Russia's ITAR-Tass news agency quoted Aeroflot spokeswoman Irina Dannenberg as saying the bomb warning came from an anonymous caller to New York City police after the plane took off.

A law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation told The Associated Press an anonymous call was placed to authorities in New York about 90 minutes into the flight. It was not clear whether the call came from the plane or from elsewhere. The official did not know the language of the threat but said it referred to explosives on the plane.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the continuing investigation. A New York Police Department spokesman said his agency was not aware of receiving the call.

Iris Marelsdottir of Iceland's Civil Protection Agency said all the passengers were safe and being taken care of by the Red Cross at the airport, not in Reykjavik as she had said earlier.

"The search for explosives is under way in accordance with aviation security procedures and plans," Marelsdottir said. "They haven't found any explosives, and I don't know long the search will go on."

AP

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in