Lufthansa aeroplane turns around after 'bomb scare'
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Version 0 of 1. A Lufthansa plane was forced to turn around and return to Istanbul after the pilot demanded a bomb search be carried out. The pilot heard a suspicious sound coming from the cargo section before calling for the search to be conducted, according to a Turkish news agency. The Lufthansa Airways' Airbus A321 plane, flight number LH-1305, took off at 6:10 am on Sunday morning from Istanbul's Atatürk Airport bound for Frankfurt. After take-off, and upon hearing a strange sound, the lead pilot contacted the air control tower to let them know that he would be turning back to the airport. The plane landed safely back at Istanbul 50 minutes after take-off, at 7.00 am. Istanbul's Ataturk Airport Upon landing, the plane’s passengers disembarked and taken to the terminal and a bomb search was carried out. Police searched the pilot's cabin and the cargo section of the plane. Passengers' suitcases were also checked by X-ray. The aircraft was eventually able to leave Istanbul after a search of the plane revealed nothing suspicious. The incident comes after a tragedy was averted at the last minute on a Turkish Airlines (THY) flight from Istanbul to Tirana last week after the pilot heard noises coming from the cargo section right before takeoff. The authorities then found and released a worker who had been locked in the cargo hold. |