Aircraft’s crew requested a diversion to Faro Airport before ultimately deciding to land at its original destination, Lanzarote
Portuguese Air Force jets were deployed on Monday morning (June 19) after a bomb threat was detected on a plane flying from Cardiff to the Canary Islands as it crossed national air space.
According to an official statement from the air force, the jets were launched from Air Base No. 5 in Monte Real at around 9am, shortly after the aircraft requested a diversion to the Algarve’s Faro Airport due to the reported threat.
The fighter jets were dispatched to escort the aircraft, providing support and ensuring the safety and orderly management of national airspace. However, during the escort, the civilian crew opted to continue to their original destination, which lay outside Portuguese territory.
Once the aircraft exited the Portuguese Flight Information Region (FIR), responsibility for the flight transitioned to Spanish authorities, and the F-16s returned to base.
The TUI flight landed safely at its original destination, Lanzarote, shortly after.
According to the UK’s The Mirror, the jets were dispatched after a threatening note was discovered in the TUI aircraft’s bathroom, creating panic on the flight.
“Despite the full-on response, officials eventually discovered there was no explosive device aboard, and local police have now launched an urgent investigation to determine who wrote the letter found in the bathroom,” the paper wrote.
Meanwhile, sources told local newspaper La Voz de Lanzarote that the aircraft raised the alarm about a possible bomb, but the alert was ultimately cancelled once it was determined there was no credible threat.
Departures at the Lanzarote airport were delayed as investigators worked at the scene.
