SAA 2hrs late after bomb threat

2003-09-02 22:41

Cape Town - A bomb threat on an SAA flight from Cape Town to London was delayed by more than two hours on Tuesday night.

Flight SAA 220 was scheduled to depart at 20:00. About 19:00 a threat was made on the 10111 number, South African Airways spokesperson Rich Mkhondo said.

The 192 passengers were evacuated, and police, airport security and sniffer dogs thoroughly searched the plane.

He said the threat was being taken seriously. A passenger, who did not want to be named, said baggage checks were being done.

Nothing suspicious was found on board the Boeing 747-300.

Police Captain Ettiene Terblanche said the plane was declared safe about 21:40.

Passengers started boarding at 22:00 and the plane departed for London at 22:45.

Terblanche did not want to give details of the nature of the threat.

SA Airways operates three flights a day between South Africa and London - two from Johannesburg and one from Cape Town. - Die Burger/Sapa

- News24