Bomb threat forces Saudia flight with 442 Hajj pilgrims to divert in Indonesia
Transport ministry confirms aircraft remains grounded as investigation continues
DUBAI: A Saudia Airlines flight carrying 442 Indonesian Hajj pilgrims was diverted on Tuesday morning following a bomb threat received by Indonesian authorities.
The aircraft, operating as flight SV 5276 from Jeddah to Jakarta, was en route to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport when the threat emerged.
Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed it was alerted at 7:30am local time (5:30am PKT) via an anonymous email to state-run airport operator Angkasa Pura. The message warned of a plan to “blow up” the aircraft.
What was the response?
In line with emergency protocols, Soekarno-Hatta Airport activated its Emergency Operations Center and convened its airport security committee. At 10:17am, the pilot informed Jakarta Air Traffic Control of a decision to divert the flight to Kualanamu International Airport in Medan, Sumatra.
The aircraft, carrying 207 men and 235 women, landed safely at 10:55am and was immediately directed to an isolated parking area.
Was anyone harmed?
All passengers were safely evacuated, and a bomb disposal unit from the Indonesian police conducted a sweep of the aircraft. As of now, no explosives have been found on board.
What happens next?
Authorities are working to trace the source of the threat. The flight remains grounded in Medan, with ongoing coordination between the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, airport security teams, and other stakeholders.
The incident follows the protocols of Indonesia’s Transportation Ministry Regulation No. PM 140 of 2015 and Director General Regulation No. PR 22 of 2024 regarding aviation threat response procedures.