Belgian Airbus makes emergency landing in Malta after bomb threat

An SN Brussels Airbus 330 made an emergency landing at Malta International Airport early yesterday afternoon after Brussels airport received two anonymous phone calls threatening terrorist action against the plane.

The flight, SN463, left Brussels at 10.20 a.m. and was scheduled to arrive in Nairobi, Kenya, at 8.45 p.m. (10.45 p.m. Kenya time). It was scheduled to fly via Kigali in Rwanda.

A Malta International Airport spokesman said yesterday that the terrorist threat was made through two anonymous telephone calls to Brussels Airport at around noon.

The vice-president of SN Brussels Airlines, Emanuel van der Bergen, who is also in charge of security, told The Sunday Times that the wording of the threats had been specific enough for an immediate decision to be taken.

"I also had to take account of the fact that the aircraft was bound for Nairobi, which had already been the target of terrorism. As it was, within 10 minutes the captain was informed and, as the plane was in Maltese airspace, it landed there."

The captain requested emergency landing in Malta and the aircraft was directed to Park 4, where the airshow is held.

Security precautions were taken immediately and the 220 passengers and 11 crew were unloaded and taken to the terminal while the aircraft was searched. The passengers were of mixed nationalities and included Europeans and Africans. There were two unaccompanied minors.

The search was led by the Armed Forces of Malta and included MIA security staff and the police, among others.

The airport authorities in Nairobi were told in the afternoon that the flight was being delayed because it had to land in Malta for operational reasons.

In the meantime, Mr van der Bergen had nothing but praise for the Maltese authorities. "The co-operation was excellent. We are very grateful," he said.

He said that searches were carried out on the passengers, the luggage, hand luggage and in every nook and cranny of the aircraft itself, down to the wheel compartments.

At the time of going to press, the security procedures were still being carried out, according to an MIA spokesman.

The pilot and crew got some deserved rest last night, as they and the passengers were accommodated in a hotel overnight.

The aircraft is expected to resume its flight to Kigali and Nairobi at the first available opportunity today.