PIA Boeing 777 lands in Sweden after bomb threat

[CaptShahid621]

Man whoever did this, should be dealt with the most severe punishment possible. A disgrace honestly...I am sure if these involves a "love gone wrong" the guy will def. tell the police of who he thinks is the person...

Thank God it was not anything too serious....I honestly got terrified when I got word of it, because you dont hear to often a intl PIA flight being involved in such situations....

What can authorities do to neutralize future hoax attacks like this without much affect to the course of a flight?

[meekal ahmed]

Leave Manchester at mid-night? Isn't the aipoprt closed at 11 p.m. or was this departure treated as an exception? I believe you can get in and out as a special consideration if you are a delayed flight.

Glad to hear she will be home soon.

[Abbas Ali]

^ Meekal, the PIA Boeing 777 was expected to leave Manchester Airport by midnight Pakistan Standard Time (PST) i.e. around 8:00PM Manchester local time. I guess the flight must have departed from Manchester by this time now.

The flight after receiving clearance from Stockholm Security Authorities departed for Manchester at 8:00 PM Pakistan Standard Time (PST) with 254 passengers offloading the suspected passenger being questioned by the security officials. The flight is expected to reach Manchester 10:00PM (PST) for Change of Crew (due to Crew duty time limitations) and would leave Manchester by midnight (PST)

Abbas

[iqbal]

As of 21:47 local London time the flight is over the Czech Republic and can be monitored here:

http://www.flightradar24.com/ Just filer for callsign "PIA" There are also two other PIA aircraft in Europe at this time.

PK782 is 777-200LR AP-BGY and departed 20:23 local time Manchester.

[Abbas Ali]

Btw, 255 passengers is pretty good load for the Boeing 777-240LR flight.

Abbas

[3hs4n1]

I found this footage of PIA AP-BGL on the runway being evacuated (P.S Its in French , would be glad if someone can translate the report into English):

[ammad]

Departed at 20:23 local time, after almost 140 min stop at MAN. Yes good load for this flight, for 35/275 Capacity. Infact all out bound flight from YYZ-PK and JFK-PK for up to 15 OCt are above 80% booked.

[Jacobin777]

Departed at 20:23 local time, after almost 140 min stop at MAN. Yes good load for this flight, for 35/275 Capacity. Infact all out bound flight from YYZ-PK and JFK-PK for up to 15 OCt are above 80% booked.

How is Chicago load factors looking ammad?

[Abbas Ali]

Plane arrives in Pakistan after false bomb threat

By ASHRAF KHAN

KARACHI, Pakistan – Relatives thronged an airport in southern Pakistan on Sunday to greet passengers whose flight from Canada was diverted to Sweden after a baseless report that a man aboard had explosives. Canadian officials investigated whether someone with a grudge called in the threat.

As passengers were smothered with hugs and kisses from the crowd, they expressed relief that the threat turned out to be nothing. They said the experience was quite frightening, especially when a SWAT team seized the suspect as they evacuated the plane in Stockholm.

"We really got scared, especially when we saw a large number of commandos wearing masks coming in," said Irfan Ahmed, a 35-year-old passenger on the flight from Toronto.

Passengers were told there was a technical problem with the aircraft — a Boeing 777 operated by Pakistan International Airlines — and didn't find out the real reason until they were on the ground.

The plane was diverted after an anonymous woman in Canada tipped off authorities that a Canadian man on the flight was carrying explosives, said Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokesman Sgt. Marc LaPorte. The tip proved false, and police are now investigating whether the incident was a "terrorism hoax," he said.

A prosecutor decided to release the man after questioning, and police were trying to help him continue his journey to Karachi either late Saturday or Sunday, police spokesman Erik Widstrand said, adding the man had cooperated with investigators.

Haji Mohammad Umar, who sat next to the suspect during the flight, said the man told him he was returning to Pakistan after a very long time to get married. He seemed happy by the prospect and was a bit drunk, said Umar.

"When he was arrested, he remained calm and did not react much," said Umar.

Swedish police described the man as a Canadian citizen born in 1982. Initially they said he was of Pakistani background but later said they were not sure. The man was not on any international no-fly lists and had cleared a security check in Canada, said the police.

LaPorte, the police spokesman, said it appeared that the person who called in the tip had an ax to grind with the man. If the information is deemed a hoax, the caller could be charged with public mischief.

All 273 passengers — except the suspect — were allowed back on the plane in Stockholm nine hours after they landed.

"With the grace of God, it's all OK," said Zainab Jissani after arriving at the airport in Karachi with her two children.

Source: Yahoo! News

[Abbas Ali]

Flight PK-782 Passengers Get 3000 Awards+ Plus Miles on Frequent Flyer Cards

Lahore, 26 September, 2010: PIA flight PK 782 which stopped at Stockholm, Sweden due to security concerns landed at Jinnah International Airport today at 7:40AM with 254 passengers. PIA Spokesman said here on Sunday.

The Passengers of flight were received by General Manager Passenger Handling Services PIA, Mr. Aijaz Mazhar and other Senior Officials of the airline.

The Passengers were presented with bouquets and complimentary 3000 Award + Miles on frequent flyer cards on the instructions of MD PIA, Captain Aijaz Haroon and Director Marketing PIA, Mr. Imraan Ahmed Khan.

PIA management profusely thanked the Pakistan Ambassador in Sweden, Mr. Nadeem Riyaz and other senior officials for their timely support and assistance.

PIA aircraft had remained on ground for about nine and a half hours, while the passengers remained in the international transit lounge for six hours. The passengers arrived at Karachi were happy to reach their destination and praised PIA for having well looked after them. The passengers were provided food and drinks and blankets, while infants were provided milk and diapers etc. during their stay in the transit lounge.

Source: PIA Press Release

[pak4ever]

I found this footage of PIA AP-BGL on the runway being evacuated (P.S Its in French , would be glad if someone can translate the report into English):

It is in Swedish and it's Saturday 12 am news ....... They say that "an aircraft from Canada to Pakistan with 223 passengers aboard was forced to make an emergency landing at Arlanda airport. The pilot had received an alarm that's a person had brought explosives on board. Canadian police contacted the pilot on board the Boeing 777 belonging to the Pakistan International Airlines".
Media Relations Manager at Arlanda airport says that "we got a warning alarm about a threat to aircraft and would like to land at airport beacuse this threat."

They had received tips about a person with explosives were on board. The pilot chose to land at Stockholm, where the National Task Force was waiting for him. Just before the morning was all passengers evacuated. A man was arrested during peaceful circumstances since he was singled out by staff on board. According to police, no explosives found on the man but the luggage and the rest of the plane is searched by bomb disposal. According to police, the crime will be investigated in Sweden.

[meekal ahmed]

Abbas,

You are correct. As usual!

It left around 8 in the evening, Manchester time.

[Zulfiqar]

Lets hope the Canadian police can catch the anonymous lady caller.

[Pineapple]

Yes I hope there is quick action to catch the person who caused all this disruption.

[pak4ever]

According to Swedish newspaper: Police press officer "He went to Pakistan to marry"

It can be that woman in canada didnt like it so she made this drama
Stupid Woman