NATO fighter jets were dispatched to intercept a commercial flight following the activation of a ‘bomb threat’ WiFi network by a passenger onboard.
According to reports from Spanish news outlet El Nacional, Turkish Airlines flight TK1853, which departed from Istanbul, triggered an emergency alert prompting French fighter jets to be scrambled under a Quick Reaction Alert (QRA). As the aircraft entered Spanish airspace, it was transferred to Spanish jets for escort.
The Catalan news outlet detailed that the aircraft was accompanied by military planes after a threat was identified over the Mediterranean Sea in Italian airspace around 10 am. The crew declared a general emergency by using a squawk 7700 code, leading to the plane being redirected to Barcelona-El Prat Airport, where it was isolated to mitigate risks to other flights.
The alarm was triggered by the detection of a WiFi hotspot network named “I have a bomb, everyone will die,” as confirmed by Turkish Airlines Communication Director Yahya Üstün and Catalan authorities. The aircraft, carrying 148 individuals including passengers and crew, had safety protocols immediately implemented.
After safely disembarking, all passengers were relocated to a designated area within the airport premises. Sniffer dogs were deployed to search the plane, but no explosives were found by Spain’s Civil Guard police force.
The incident caused a delay of approximately 30 minutes, disrupting the flight’s intended route to Barcelona before operations resumed as normal.
This event occurred shortly after an Air India flight to Birmingham diverted due to adverse weather conditions caused by Storm Goretti. Flight AI117, departing from Amritsar, Punjab, transmitted a squawk 7700 code on January 9, altering its course towards London as a result of heavy snowfall and low visibility. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner experienced a “Minimum Fuel” situation, necessitating the emergency response for a safe landing. Birmingham Airport ceased all runway operations that evening due to the severe snowfall.
