Turkish Airlines flight to Barcelona subject to bomb threat investigation

Turkish Airlines flight to Barcelona subject to bomb threat investigation

A Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Spain's Barcelona became the focus of a security alert on Thursday following an in-flight bomb threat. The aircraft landed safely at its destination, where Spanish authorities initiated a full security review in accordance with international aviation protocols.

Threat detected via in-flight Wi-Fi network

According to Yahya Ustun, the airline's Senior Vice President of Communications, the incident occurred as flight TK1853 was approaching Barcelona. A passenger on board created a personal in-flight internet access point and set its network name (SSID) to include a phrase constituting a bomb threat. Ustun stated that the airline "immediately initiated the necessary procedures within the scope of flight safety" upon detection.

Post-landing security protocols activated

Following the safe landing at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, Spanish security forces took charge of the situation. Authorities are conducting thorough checks on the aircraft and luggage as part of standard international aviation security procedures. Airport operator Aena confirmed that while security protocols were activated, operations at the airport continued "normally" and with "complete normality."

Context and industry implications

The incident highlights the evolving nature of aviation security threats, which now extend to the misuse of onboard digital networks. For Türkiye, whose national carrier is a major global airline and a point of national pride, the effective handling of such threats by both crew and international partners underscores the robustness of its aviation safety protocols and its commitment to passenger security worldwide.