Turkish Airlines flight diverted to Canada after bomb threat

A Turkish Airlines flight, which was headed to Istanbul from New York City, was diverted after a bomb threat. The passenger plane, carrying 256 people, has landed safely in Canada.

"Turkish Airlines Flight #2 NYC to Ankara diverted to Hfx Stanfield. Landed safely at 12:53am. All safe. 256 on board," Halifax Stanfield International Airport said on its Twitter feed on 22 November. "#RCMP [Royal Canadian Mounted Police] is looking to establish the origin of the threat and identify the person or persons responsible," it added.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Nova Scotia on its Twitter handle, said it "will not comment be on the details of the bomb threat" as the investigation is ongoing. The Turkish Airlines plane and luggage of passengers will be searched using police dogs trained in explosives.

The RCMP received the bomb threat at 10.50pm local time. By then the Turkish Airlines flight had taken off from John F Kennedy International Airport.

Last week, two Air France flights en route to Paris had to be diverted because of a hoax bomb threat. Air France Flight 65 from Los Angles to Paris was diverted to Salt Lake City in Utah, while Air France Flight 055 from Washington DC to Paris was diverted to Halifax Stanfield International Airport in Canada.

Later, the FBI in a statement said that the bomb threat, which was called in by an anonymous person was not credible. The RCMP also said that they have found no explosive device on the plane.