Russia-Goa flight diverted to Uzbekistan after bomb threat

238 passengers including 2 infants onboard

ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ ITDC NEWS A Goa-bound chartered flight from Russia's Moscow was diverted to Uzbekistan in the wee hours of Saturday following a bomb threat, police said.

The Azur Air flight, with 238 passengers on board, including two infants and seven crew members, was scheduled to land at the Dabolim airport in South Goa at 4.15 am.

The flight (AZV2463) operated by Azur Air was diverted before it entered the Indian air space, airport officials said. "It was diverted after an email was received at 12.30 am by the Dabolim airport director that mentioned a bomb being planted on the plane," the official said.

After the threat email, the Dabolim airport was put on alert. As a precaution, personnel from Goa Police, Quick Response Team, Anti-Terrorism Squad and dog squad were deployed at the facility. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (Vasco), Salim Shaikh, an additional police force was deployed at the airport.

A senior official of the Dabolim airport said that a police complaint would be lodged in connection with the incident, PTI reported.

This is the second incident of threat on a Moscow-Goa flight this month. Nearly two weeks ago, a Moscow-Goa flight made an emergency landing at Gujarat's Jamnagar airport following a bomb threat.