Frankfurt Bound Vistara Flight Declares Emergency, Diverted to Turkey Over Security Fears

New Delhi: Vistara Flight UK27, en route from Mumbai (BOM) to Frankfurt (FRA), declared an emergency by pressing Squawk Code 7700  and was diverted to Erzurum Airport in Turkey for security reasons on Friday. The aircraft with 234 passengers and 13 crew members, which took off from Mumbai earlier today, safely touched down at 19:05 local time.  "Flight UK27 from Mumbai to Frankfurt (BOM-FRA) has been diverted to Turkey (Erzurum airport) due to security reasons and landed safely at 1905 hours. Please stay tuned for further updates”, the airline said in a statement.  

Bomb Threat Led to The Diversion 

"Today, a piece of paper saying "There is a bomb on the plane" was found in the toilet of the passenger plane VTI027 belonging to Vistara Airlines, which was flying from Mumbai to Frankfurt, and upon this notification, the plane made an emergency landing at our Erzurum Airport at around 16:30. 234 passengers and 13 crew members disembarked the aircraft without any problems. Search operations inside the aircraft continue with 2 bomb disposal experts and 1 search dog. Necessary measures were taken at the airport by AFAD, Fire, Health, Security, UMKE and DHMI Teams. Due to emergencies, landings and takeoffs are not allowed at Erzurum Airport until 21:00", Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said in a post on X. 

Mumbai ATC Alerted

“At 2 PM IST, Mumbai ATC also received a bomb threat on a Vistara flight from Mumbai to Frankfurt. The aircraft was immediately diverted to the nearest airport, with Indian authorities launching an investigation into the source of the hoax call. Passengers are expected to stay overnight in Turkey and will likely continue to Frankfurt in a different aircraft early tomorrow morning. Thorough checks are currently being conducted inside the airline", sources told Republic.  

Vistara Issues Statement

“Vistara flight UK 27 operating from Mumbai to Frankfurt on 06 September 2024 has been diverted to Turkey due to a security concern that was noted by our crew while onboard. The aircraft has safely landed at the Erzurum Airport. As per protocol, the relevant authorities were immediately alerted and we are fully cooperating with the security agencies to complete the mandatory security checks. At Vistara, the safety and security of our customers, crew, and aircraft remain our highest priority”, the airline spokesperson said in a statement.  

What Does Squawk Code 7700 Mean? 

Squawk 7700 is a code that signals an emergency on an aircraft. Pilots can enter this code manually or when instructed by Air Traffic Control (ATC). It alerts ground control that the plane is facing a serious issue and requires assistance.

This code can be used for various emergencies, such as mechanical problems or even medical emergencies. When the plane approaches landing, the ground team prepares by clearing the runway and having emergency services ready to assist as soon as the plane touches down.