Jakarta: A plane bearing hundreds of Hajj -pilgrims back to Indonesia from the Middle East was redirected on Saturday after a bomb threat, said the Ministry of Transport and the police, the other such event in a week.
Saudia Airlines Flight SV5688 had flown from the Saudi town of Jeddah to Omani Capital Muscat, before traveling to Indonesia, where it was due to land in Surabaya, a city on the main island of Java.
But air traffic management staff in the Indonesian capital Jakarta received a call about a bomb threat for the flight, which led to its diversion to Kualanamu International Airport in Medan City on Saturday morning, the Directorate -General of Civil Aviation said.
Regional airport authority manager Asri Santosa said in a statement that officers checked the aircraft after its arrival, but the airport on Sumatra Island remained operational.
All 376 passengers, Hajj Pilgrims from Java, and 13 crew members were safe at the airport, spokesman for North Sumatra Police Ferry Walintukan told AFP.
He said a bombing was deployed to sweep the aircraft.
Passengers need to resume their journey on Sunday, Asri said.
On Tuesday, a plane that transported 442 Hajj -Pilgrims returned from Saudi -Arabia to Jakarta also redirected to Medan after an E email bomber was sent to authorities.
