Plane diverts over 'security alert'
A holiday jet flying from the UK to Egypt had to divert to Athens airport today after “a security alert”.
The Thomson Airways’ Boeing 757, with more than 200 passengers aboard, landed safely at Athens having taken off from Bristol bound for the Egyptian resort of Sharm el Sheikh.
While the passengers and crew were being looked after in the terminal building at Athens, the plane was being inspected.
A Thomson Airways spokesman said that after the security alert “as a precaution and in the interest of customer safety the crew took the decision to divert to Athens”.
He went on: “The plane landed safely and there were no injuries. A full inspection of the aircraft is being carried out.”
The incident, involving flight TOM226, occurred at around 1pm.
According to Greek officials, two Greek F-16 fighter jets and a Super Puma helicopter escorted the Thomson plane into Athens after a bomb threat had been made.
Thomson said the aircraft had 217 people aboard and had left Bristol at 9.30am today.
