Bomb threat delays SAA flight

2003-09-02 22:04

Cape Town - South African Airways flight SA 220 from Cape Town to London scheduled to depart at 20:00 on Tuesday was delayed after the airport company received a bomb threat.

Airways spokesperson Rich Mkhondo said the 192 passengers were off-loaded after the threat was made by telephone on the 10111 number around 19:0.

Mkhondo said the threat was being taken seriously and the police bomb squad with sniffer dogs was searching the Boeing 747-300.

A passenger who wanted not to be named said baggage checks were being done and the search process was very thorough.

Depending on the outcome of the search, Flight SA 220 might leave for London later, but otherwise the passengers would be accommodated in various hotels around the city and be flown out on Wednesday morning, Mkhondo said.

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

- SAPA