Plane carrying Hajj pilgrims diverted after bomb threat in Indonesia

An aircraft carrying hundreds of Hajj pilgrims from Saudi Arabia was rerouted in Indonesia on Tuesday, following a bomb threat sent via email, according to the country's aviation authority.

Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation reported receiving a notification from the national airport operator about a threat received through email from an unknown sender.

The message, sent at 7:30 am local time (0030 GMT), warned of an attempt to "blow up" Saudia Airlines flight SV 5276, which was en route from Jeddah to Jakarta, the agency stated.

Shortly after 10 am, the pilot chose to divert the flight away from Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, instead landing at Kualanamu International Airport in Medan, located on the island of Sumatra.

The plane was carrying a total of 442 pilgrims—207 men and 235 women, officials said.

“In response to potential security risks, the pilot opted to land at the nearest available airport,” said Indonesia's airport management company, InJourney Airports.

A representative from the transportation ministry informed AFP that the aircraft remained in Medan. Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 confirmed its location.

Authorities evacuated the passengers and conducted a thorough search of the aircraft using a bomb disposal team, the aviation body added.