A Turkish Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Barcelona on Thursday morning after a passenger made a hoax threat by setting up a Wi-Fi hotspot, suggesting there was a “bomb threat” on board, airline officials said.
The emergency protocol was alerted when Flight 1853 from Istanbul was already approaching its intended destination at Barcelona-El Prat Airport. Euro news said the Airbus A321, carrying 148 passengers and seven crew, was sent to a designated area for inspection after landing.
“It was discovered that a passenger had created an internet access point during the flight and gave the network a name that contained a bomb threat,” Yahya Üstün, senior vice president of communications at Turkish Airlines, said in a post on X.
Easy flying reported that the flight was flying over the Mediterranean Sea when a flight crew member noticed an alarming WiFi name that reportedly said, “I have a bomb, everyone will die.”
PASSENGERS STAYED AND CONFUSED AFTER SCREAMING FROM UNDER TAXIING AIR CANADA PLANE
Crews put passengers’ luggage on the tarmac of Josep Tarradellas-El Prat Airport in Barcelona, Spain, January 15, 2026. (REUTERS/Albert Gea)
Following the warning, the necessary safety procedures were immediately initiated, Üstün said.
The plane was then escorted by two fighter jets, one Spanish and one French, during emergency protocol, Euronews reported.
CAUSE OF ALASKA AIRLINES’ FAILED LANDING GATE THAT REVEALED PASSENGERS SCREAMING
A sniffer dog inspects a line of luggage at an airport. (Reuters)
After the plane landed safely, emergency crews inspected the plane and tried to identify the passenger who created the threatening Wi-Fi hotspot name, aviation officials said. According to Euronews, the operation involved Spanish authorities, such as personnel from the Guardia Civil, the National Police and the regional police and fire brigade of Catalonia.
According to images from the scene, a dog was used to search the passenger’s luggage on the tarmac.
However, officials said “no irregularities were found” after a thorough inspection.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
A Turkish Airlines plane is inspected by police after a false bomb threat following an emergency landing at Josep Tarradellas-El Prat Airport in Barcelona, Spain on January 15, 2026. (REUTERS/Albert Gea)
“The return flight of our aircraft will be operated after passenger boarding is completed,” Üstün said.
Operations at Barcelona-El Prat airport resumed normally after the explosion scare, Reuters reported.
Reuters contributed to this report.
