UPS Boeing 747-8F with registration N618UP was on its way from Cologne (ICAO: EDDK) to Louisville (ICAO: KSDF), when the airline received a message about an alleged bomb on board. It was decided to land the plane as soon as possible, and therefore it diverted to the nearest airport in Keflavik (ICAO: BIKF). Upon the arrival of the plane with the “bomb” threat the airport was closed and other arriving planes were diverted to alternate destinations.
Two Icelandic anti-bomb squads arrived in Keflavik to check the plane. The freighter was towed to a secured area in the airport and bomb specialists went on board. During the check, they found a suspicious package. Before opening it they scanned the content with different tools. Turned out there were replicas of firearms, fireworks and a bottle with an unknown liquid in the package. “These are definitely things that shouldn’t be in airplanes,” according to assistant superintendent at the police of Southern Iceland Ásmundar Rúnar Gylfasonar, interviewed by MBL.is.
The hot stage of the emergency ended at 8:00UTC on 29.September when the specialists finished checking the plane. Now Icelandic police will proceed with the investigation together with their foreign colleagues.
