Second Saudi Airlines flight diverted in Indonesia over bomb threat in one week
Saudi Gazette reportJEDDAH —
For the second time in less than a week, a Saudi Airlines flight from Jeddah to Indonesia has been diverted following a bomb threat, Indonesian authorities confirmed Saturday.Flight SV5688, which departed King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and was scheduled to transit through Muscat before landing in Surabaya, Indonesia, was rerouted to Kualanamu International Airport in Medan after air traffic controllers in Jakarta received a call about a possible explosive device onboard.
The plane was carrying 387 passengers. Upon arrival in Medan, officials from the Regional Airports Authority began inspecting the aircraft while operations at the airport on Sumatra Island continued normally, said authority chairman Asri Santosa.
The diversion comes just days after another Saudi Airlines flight — SV5276 — also en route from Jeddah to Jakarta, was redirected to the same airport in Medan following an emailed bomb threat to Indonesian authorities.
That flight was carrying 442 passengers and was grounded safely while a bomb disposal team conducted a search.
Saudi Airlines confirmed the prior incident, stating that the airline acted in accordance with international aviation safety protocols upon receiving the alert.
The Indonesian Directorate General of Civil Aviation said both diversions were precautionary, and no explosives were found in either case. Authorities are continuing to investigate the source of the threats.
Latest Saudi Gazette
- Saudi Arabia deports 7,238 illegal residents in a weekSaudi Gazette report RIYADH — A total of 12,066 illegal residents were arrested in Saudi Arabia in a week. The arrests were made during the inspections, carried out by the security forces in collaboration
- Tourism ministry intensifies inspections in summer tourist destinationsSaudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Ministry of Tourism has intensified its inspections of summer tourist destinations across Saudi Arabia. These inspections aimed to ensure that hospitality facilities
- Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli strikes on Iran, urges return to negotiationsSaudi Gazette reportISTANBUL — Saudi Arabia on Saturday renewed its condemnation of Israel’s “blatant aggression” against Iran, calling the attacks a violation of Iranian sovereignty and a breach
- Summer season begins astronomically on SaturdaySaudi Gazette report RIYADH — The skies over Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Northern Hemisphere witnessed the summer solstice at 5:42 AM Makkah time on Saturday, June 21. At this moment, the sun came
- 20 drug smugglers nabbed within 24 hoursSaudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Saudi security authorities have arrested 20 drug smugglers in massive security operations carried out across the Kingdom within the last 24 hours. Those arrested include
- Revised residential and commercial electricity tariffs to remain sameSaudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Saudi Electricity Regulatory Authority (ECRA) has approved the new Electricity Service Provision Guide, which was published in the official Umm Al-Qura newspaper on
