Reports of bomb threat on MK943

[Peabody]

I have heard reports that Air Mauritius MK943 is diverting back to Melbourne due to a phoned in threat from the ground relating to a "device" onboard. Very concerning however hopefully it is simply a hoax!

UPDATE: MK943 has landed at MEL. So far without incident.

 

[mella2007]

Reports on twitter that they're closing the airport??

 

[ReLoad]

I'm about to board QF 94 to come home, fingers crossed all is ok.

 

[reductionist]

The Age is reporting the AFP are on the scene.

Plane returns to Melbourne Airport after mid-air emergency

 

[mella2007]

Flights in and out on hold according to 3AW (5 mins ago)

 

[reductionist]

I took a quick look at the flight radar and lots of inbound aircraft seemed to be circling or in holding patterns (whatever the correct technical term is).

 

[ReLoad]

All normal here at lax a t-30 mins. Any updates would be great

 

[Blackadder]

All normal here at lax a t-30 mins. Any updates would be great

I imagine things would be all clear by the time QF94 touches down tomorrow morning.

 

[ReLoad]

I imagine things would be all clear by the time QF94 touches down tomorrow morning.

That's my thought as well but I've heard of situations where inbound planes aren't allowed to take off before, in our case I guess BNE or SYD would be easy options in The unlikely event that it continues.

 

[JessicaTam]

Aircraft has landed and is in a "remote" area of the airport. Passengers disembarked safely. No threat to passengers or the wider airport area/community. Airport operating normally (although there may have been some delays that are being worked through). There are still a large number of AFRS/MFB/CFA appliances on scene.

Hope that helps ReLoad, welcome home!:mrgreen:

16:15 EDIT: Passengers being disembarked at the moment
16:30 EDIT2: AFP currently sweeping aircraft for 'suspicious item'

 

[VHOEJ]

I am surprised the media were interested in a flight other than QF...........

 

[TheInsider]

I am surprised the media were interested in a flight other than QF...........

Well, this hasn't had much media coverage in comparison.

 

[StevePER]

I have heard reports that Air Mauritius MK943 is diverting back to Melbourne due to a phoned in threat from the ground relating to a "device" onboard. Very concerning however hopefully it is simply a hoax!

ABC News had a different story, that a suspicious device was found on board (soft drink can with "bomb" written on it).

 

[mannej]

QF still managed to make it into the article (well visually atleast...)
Emergency crews race to Melbourne Airport after bomb threat on Air Mauritius flight | News.com.au

 

[Peabody]

ABC News had a different story, that a suspicious device was found on board (soft drink can with "bomb" written on it).

That may well be the case, I have not seen any recent news reports of the situation and I was only reporting off initial reports coming through.

 

[StevePER]

I think in the rush to get the story out, the media don't always get their story straight. The truth could lie somewhere in the middle.

 

[Happy Trails]

Who needs real terrorists with panic merchants like this?
And they kept the passengers on board for 45 minutes after landing with a supposed bomb ready to explode at any minute?
Memories of the "B.O.B" fiasco spring to mind.

 

[moa999]

A real "fizzer"
Air Mauritius Soft Drink Bomb Scare| Crew Misread Label

However a Victoria Police spokeswoman today said no offence had been detected ‘‘due to an initial misinterpretation of foreign lettering on the print of the can’’.
She said the word was printed on the can itself and not handwritten, as originally reported by police yesterday.

 

[harvyk]

If I was ever inclined to bring some sort of explosive device onto a plane (and actually have it explode) I would not be advertising that it was there, and I certainly would not be writing the word bomb on it. In fact I would be doing exactly the opposite, I would be trying to make it look as inconspicuous as possible so no one could guess the devices true nature until it was too late.

If I was to see a device which claimed it was a bomb my first reaction would be to think it was a hoax unless I saw other evidence that it could actually be what it says it is.

(I would like to add at this point, I've never been inclined to do something like this, and I highly doubt I ever would be inclined)

 

[Mal]

How on earth do staff misread a foreign can of soft drink - presumably supplied by their caterers as indicating 'bomb'.

What a freakin waste of time and resources.

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