The morning at El Prat Airport in Barcelona began with unsettling news: a Turkish Airlines flight arriving from Istanbul made an emergency landing due to a bomb threat on board. Within minutes, the aircraft became the focus of security services, while passengers found themselves at the center of events that could have ended much more tragically.
It all started when one of the passengers, using his mobile phone, created an open Wi-Fi network with a provocative name. The message “Bomb at 9.30” appeared on other people’s devices. Someone noticed it, and panic quickly spread throughout the cabin. The crew didn’t waste any time: the captain declared an emergency, and French and Spanish military jets escorted the plane all the way to landing.
Emergency landing
At Barcelona airport, the aircraft was met not only by airline staff but also by police and bomb disposal experts. All 150 passengers were evacuated and temporarily placed in the terminal while a thorough inspection of the cabin and luggage took place. The atmosphere in the waiting area was tense: people didn’t understand what was happening and were waiting for any information.
The inspection took several hours. In the end, no explosives were found. However, it turned out that the cause of the panic was indeed the Wi-Fi network created by one of the passengers. This was not just a bad joke—such actions can have serious consequences for everyone on board.
Turkish Airlines’ response
The management of Turkish Airlines went beyond offering standard apologies to passengers. The airline’s vice president, Yahya Üstün, stated that the company intends to seek legal action against the culprit. According to him, such behavior should not go unpunished, as it concerns the safety of hundreds of people and the work of emergency services.
The company has already begun identifying the passenger who triggered the false alarm. Turkish Airlines emphasizes that it will seek the maximum punishment allowed by law. In Spain, such actions are subject to criminal prosecution: Article 561 of the Criminal Code stipulates up to one year in prison for false reports of emergencies that lead to the mobilization of rescue services.
Police stance
While the airline prepares documents for court, the investigation is also being conducted by the Guardia Civil. Security personnel are questioning everyone who was on board and analyzing mobile device data. It remains unclear whether this was malicious intent or a careless prank, but the consequences for the person responsible could be severe.
Police remind the public: even if a threat turns out to be false, such incidents result in substantial resource expenditures and can endanger lives. This time, there were no casualties, but the situation could have unfolded with much more dangerous consequences.
Consequences for passengers
Passengers on flight TK 1853, caught up in someone else’s recklessness, spent several hours in isolation while authorities carried out checks. Many were forced to cancel or reschedule their plans, with some experiencing significant stress. For the airline, this resulted not only in reputational damage but also in additional costs related to the evacuation and security procedures.
In such cases, it’s crucial to remember that even a single careless joke can have serious consequences for everyone on board. Turkish Airlines insists that the offender must be held accountable to prevent similar incidents in the future.
