Bomb hoax delays TransAsia Airways Taiwan-Macau flight
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Bomb hoax delays TransAsia Airways Taiwan-Macau flight
A TransAsia Airways flight from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to Macau was delayed Friday after the company received e-mails warning of a bomb on board, reports said.
Police eventually found the threat was the result of a marital dispute, but passengers still had to leave the aircraft while their luggage was subject to a thorough search, reports said.
Flight GE353 was scheduled to leave Taoyuan at 12:50 noon Friday, but around 11:35 a.m., the carrier received an e-mail message warning there was an explosive on board, reports said.
An estimated 150 passengers were forced to leave the plane for questioning, while the aircraft was pulled away from the airport buildings and the luggage was searched.
At the time, the company reportedly received a second e-mail from the same person saying he had made a mistake and there was no bomb on board.
Police detained three passengers and released two of them while trying to understand the motives for the incident, reports said.
The main suspect, a man surnamed Liu, expressed surprise at being questioned. He reportedly told interrogators that his e-mail account must have been hacked or used by someone who knew him for a practical joke.
His wife later turned up at the airport and admitted she had sent the e-mails in revenge for a spat with her husband the day before, reports said. Both husband and wife were likely to face charges.
After a search of the aircraft and the luggage failed to turn up any suspect packages, passengers were allowed to board the flight again, which took off at around 4 o’clock, reports said.
Police eventually found the threat was the result of a marital dispute, but passengers still had to leave the aircraft while their luggage was subject to a thorough search, reports said.
Flight GE353 was scheduled to leave Taoyuan at 12:50 noon Friday, but around 11:35 a.m., the carrier received an e-mail message warning there was an explosive on board, reports said.
An estimated 150 passengers were forced to leave the plane for questioning, while the aircraft was pulled away from the airport buildings and the luggage was searched.
At the time, the company reportedly received a second e-mail from the same person saying he had made a mistake and there was no bomb on board.
Police detained three passengers and released two of them while trying to understand the motives for the incident, reports said.
The main suspect, a man surnamed Liu, expressed surprise at being questioned. He reportedly told interrogators that his e-mail account must have been hacked or used by someone who knew him for a practical joke.
His wife later turned up at the airport and admitted she had sent the e-mails in revenge for a spat with her husband the day before, reports said. Both husband and wife were likely to face charges.
After a search of the aircraft and the luggage failed to turn up any suspect packages, passengers were allowed to board the flight again, which took off at around 4 o’clock, reports said.
