Passengers Questioned About Air France Flight Bomb Threat

Passengers Questioned About Air France Flight Bomb Threat

Flight 463 bound for Paris was forced to divert its route due a bomb threat on Dec. 20, 2015. According to CBCNews, the flight left Mauritius, an East African Country, and made an emergency landing in the Moi International Airport in Mombasa, Kenya.

In Kenya, the police have begun questioning six passengers. One of which is the person who made the report. According to the CNCNews, there was a device that “looked like ‘a stopwatch mounted on a box,’ found in one of the jet’s restrooms.

The cabin crew was advised of the suspect device, who then reported the information to the pilots. The decision was made to divert the flight and make an emergency landing.

Passengers were safe and evacuated. Benoit Lucchini, a Paris resident who was one of the passengers, indicated that they were not aware of the problem. Lucchini said, “The plane just went down slowly, slowly, slowly,” and then it became apparent that something was wrong.

Police in Kenya have not been authorized to speak to the media. However, one officer did state that the device is being inspected by “bomb experts.” The bomb technicians will determine if the device is an explosive.

The passengers and crew were screened in the airport and were then transported to hotels. There is no word about when the flight will resume.

Headliners Today will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates.

UPDATE Dec. 20, 2015, 10:05 a.m. PST. According to CNN, the object was inspected and there was no explosives present. It was a “cardboard box containing papers” with some kind of timer inside. Four people have been arrested.

By Cathy Milne

Sources:
CBCNews: UPDATED
Air France flight forced to land in Kenya over bomb scare; 6 passengers questioned
Featured Image Courtesy of Areo Lcarus’ Flickr Page – Creative Commons License

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