EgyptAir jet makes emergency landing in Uzbekistan over bomb scare

A plane en route from Cairo to Beijing has landed in Uzbekistan due to a bomb threat. It is now being searched, according to Uzbek Airways, the official state airline. The plane belongs to EgyptAir, Russia Today reported.

The plane made an emergency landing after the authorities received an anonymous tip-off about explosives on board, according to Kazakh media outlet Tengrinews.

The flight belongs to EgyptAir and was en route from Cairo to Beijing, according to RIA Novosti news agency and local media.

The Uzbekistan Airways press service confirmed the information, but did not specify the name of the airline. The plane was searched by security services.

There were 118 passengers and 17 crew members on board, all of whom were evacuated.

Later, Egyptian aviation sources said the bomb threat turned out to be a hoax.

"The plane is preparing to resume its journey. It was a hoax, thank God," said one of the sources.

It comes less than a month after EgyptAir flight MS804 disappeared over the sea on its way from Paris to Cairo. Investigation into that crash is still ongoing, but a terrorist act is being discussed as one of the theories behind the tragedy.

Source : MENA