ADDS INFO, CHANGES DECK, EDITS THOROUGH
By Talha Koca
ERZURUM, Türkiye (AA) - An Indian passenger plane made an emergency landing Friday in eastern Türkiye because of "security reasons.”
The Vistara Airlines plane was en route from India to Germany when it landed at Erzurum Airport.
Summarizing search efforts, Erzurum Gov. Mustafa Ciftci said: "As a result of our work, we have determined that the bomb threat was unfounded."
He added a flight ban imposed at the airport has been lifted as of 11.30 p.m. local time.
Stating that the plane will stay at the airport, Ciftci noted a new plane will arrive from Mumbai, India, at 7.25 a.m. Saturday to take passengers to Frankfurt.
Vistara Airlines said in a statement after the landing that "flight UK27 from Mumbai to Frankfurt (BOM-FRA) has been diverted to Turkey (Erzurum airport) due to security reasons and has landed safely at 1905 hours."
Sources said Turkish emergency response teams, including the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), medical personnel, police and firefighters were immediately dispatched to the airport following the landing.
Ciftci, in a statement to Anadolu, confirmed that the plane was carrying 247 passengers and crew.