Flight to UAE diverted to air base after bomb threat

Dubai, May 4: A commercial plane was diverted to a military air base in Dubai after a passenger said the plane would explode, the United Arab Emirates' state news agency said early today.

Authorities boarded the Air Arabia flight from Kuwait after it landed at al-Minhad air base, on the outskirts of Dubai, the WAM news agency said.

The news agency said authorities "took the appropriate standard procedures to deal with the situation," without elaborating.

Air Arabia, a budget carrier based in the emirate of Sharjah, said in a statement that the plane was diverted because of an "unruly passenger" and landed safely.

It said authorities are currently investigating the incident, without providing further details.

AP