Muscat: A Kuala Lumpur-bound Oman Air flight from Muscat had to make an emergency landing in Mumbai on Saturday after a mid-air bomb scare, according to reports in Indian media.
“The flight landed safely and the plane has been taken to a remote bay,” the reports quoted an airport official.
“Oman Air flight from Muscat for Kuala Lumpur made an emergency landing here at 13.47pm due to a mid-air bomb threat. The aircraft has been taken to an isolation bay,” a Mumbai airport spokesperson told local media.
When contacted in Muscat, an Oman Air spokesman assured that the company will soon issue a statement. “The flight is still in Mumbai,” the Oman Air spokesman said.
Interestingly, this is a second incident of a bomb scare on Oman Air’s Muscat-Kuala Lumpur flight in a month.
On May 21, the Oman Air flight to Kuala Lumpur was called back after a call about a bomb on board the aircraft. The call was made as soon as the flight left Muscat International Airport and a thorough check revealed that it was a hoax call.
This is the fifth incident in the last five months.
In February, a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane, with 108 passengers, crash-landed when the rear landing gear (rear tyre) on the left of the aircraft broke down. In April, a false fire alarm forced a Saudi Airline aircraft to make an emergency landing at Muscat International Airport.
Last month, a private Bangladesh airline aircraft with 133 passengers and about 10 crew members had a tyre burst but no one was hurt in the incident.
Last Monday, an Oman Air flight from Muscat to Salalah, returned to Muscat International Airport shortly after take-off following damage to its cockpit window.
Muscat International Airport is undergoing a massive expansion, including runway and new terminal building since 2006 but for one reason or another the work has been delayed. Now, the government hopes to complete it by next year.
