Fighter jets scrambled after bomb threat to El Al flight

Tel Aviv, July 5: Swiss and French Air Force jets were today scrambled after an El Al flight from New York to Tel Aviv received a bomb threat. Aviation authorities in New York received an anonymous bomb threat to El Al Israeli passenger flight LY 002 which prompted Swiss government to send the F-18 jets when the plane was in its airspace.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said that US aviation authorities had received an "anonymous tip about a bomb inside an airplane kitchenette."

"The Americans updated Swiss authorities while the plane was in Swiss airspace, and the Swiss scrambled fighter jets to escort the plane," the ministry said. The plane landed safely and the bomb scare turned out to be a false alarm, officials said.

"An examination showed the plane was 'clean' and it continued its journey as usual," it added. El Al officials earlier said that they received an anonymous tip about a bomb on board flight LY002, but added that the flight was proceeding on schedule without giving further details.

A passenger on board told the local media here after landing that he and his fellow passengers were "not alerted to the bomb threat" nor "could they sense any irregularity during the flight".

PTI