Media: Turkish Airlines flight lands in Barcelona following bomb threat

A Turkish Airlines plane from Türkiye landed safely in Barcelona on January 15 after a bomb threat prompted a security response, EFE reports per Spanish authorities.

All 148 passengers and seven crew members disembarked on foot and were moved to a secure area, the Civil Guard said.

Civil Protection activated the Aerocat emergency plan to monitor the “risk situation” at El Prat Airport, which continues to operate normally, Aena confirmed.

The Mossos d’Esquadra regional police are assisting the airport operator and the Civil Guard, which is inspecting the aircraft. Authorities emphasised that the alleged threat “does not in any way affect” airport operations.

Flight TK1853 departed Istanbul at 09:22 local time, about 30 minutes late, and landed at El Prat at 10:57, also roughly 30 minutes behind schedule, according to the flight tracking website Flight Radar.

Security sources said the threat was received around 10:00. The aircraft was directed to a secure parking area. The Generalitat Fire Service sent five units as a precaution, and local police from El Prat de Llobregat were also deployed.

Flight Radar data showed the plane circled off the Catalan coast for around 20 minutes before landing.

According to El Periódico, the flight is believed to have departed from Istanbul en route to the Catalan capital.

The operator of Spanish airports, Aena, reported that Barcelona Airport is operating as usual. Following a threat on board the aircraft, security protocols have been activated, and the security services are assessing the situation.

By Aghakazim Guliyev