Emergency Landing in Lisbon: Two Arrested After Fake Bomb Threat on SATA Flight

A false bomb threat led to an emergency landing of a SATA aircraft in Lisbon this Saturday. The plane, operated by the Azorean airline, was en route to Bilbao, Spain, when it was forced to divert and land at Figo Maduro. Two passengers were arrested in connection with the incident.

Emergency services, including several fire brigades, were called to the scene as a precautionary measure. The aircraft landed safely at 13:15, following the alert raised at 12:50.

The incident was initially classified as a red alert but was later downgraded to orange. Azores Airlines confirmed that the bomb threat was not validated by the competent authorities after a thorough inspection of the aircraft and luggage.

Following this false alarm, two passengers were detained for questioning on suspicion of being responsible for communicating the threat. The flight was diverted to Lisbon Airport, where it landed safely. In accordance with security protocols, the aircraft was directed to an isolated area, allowing for the calm and safe disembarkation of all passengers and crew.

The operational impact is currently limited to the Bilbao flight, with the rest of the operations proceeding as planned. The airline is awaiting the conclusion of the process so that the aircraft can resume operations as soon as possible, while providing support and assistance to the passengers affected by this occurrence.