By Alexandra Enberg
IZMIR, Türkiye (AA) - Two commercial planes traveling from the Danish capital Copenhagen to the Norwegian city of Stavanger had to return to Copenhagen airport late Thursday after receiving bomb threats.
A Norwegian Airlines plane entered Norwegian airspace when urged to return and a Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) flight was ordered to turn back immediately after takeoff.
According to the police, the SAS plane was escorted by two F-16 fighter jets as part of a standard security procedure, while the Norwegian plane landed itself.
The airlines confirmed to Norwegian broadcaster NRK that all passengers were evacuated upon landing.
Police and emergency services were still searching the planes at 9.25 p.m. local time. Copenhagen Police emphasized that they "take the situation seriously" when it comes to a bomb threat.
"So far, we consider it a bomb threat, said Simon Hansen, deputy police inspector at Copenhagen Police.
Hansen told broadcaster TV2 that the investigation of the two planes in question "may take some time. We examine the planes thoroughly, and all luggage must be examined."
Lise Agerley Kürstein, press and communications manager at Copenhagen Airport, told the broadcaster that all passengers were debriefed in a crisis room after the evacuations.
"People have been evacuated and are safe," she said
Both planes were supposed to have flown to Sola near Stavanger in Norway.
Hansen said there are no suspicions of bomb threats against other aircraft. He was not able to provide more information on how the police received the threats directed at the two planes.