India's Vistara Airlines flight makes emergency landing in Turkey after bomb threat

Two bomb disposal experts, a search dog checked the aircraft while 234 passengers and 13 crew were safely evacuated

ISTANBUL:

A flight operated by Indian Vistara Airlines made an emergency landing on Friday in Erzurum in eastern Turkey after a piece of paper with "bomb on board" written on it was found in a lavatory, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on X.

Two bomb disposal experts and one search dog were continuing to search the aircraft, Yerlikaya said, adding that 234 passengers and 13 crew had been safely evacuated.

"Vistara flight UK 27 operating from Mumbai to Frankfurt has been diverted to Turkey due to a security concern that was noted by our crew while onboard," a Vistara spokesperson told Reuters, confirming the aircraft had landed at Erzurum.

"As per protocol, the relevant authorities were immediately alerted and we are fully cooperating with the security agencies to complete the mandatory security checks," the spokesperson said.

Landings and take-offs at Erzurum Airport have been halted due to the emergency, Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu wrote on X.