Bomb hoax delays Dubai-bound Shaheen Air flight

A bomb scare delayed a Dubai-bound flight from the Pakistani city of Peshawar, according to Pakistani media reports.

According to Dawn, a Pakistani newspaper, Shaheen Air International flight NL-786 took off two and a half hours after its scheduled departure time of 2:30 pm after an intensive search of the aircraft, passengers and luggage by members of a bomb-disposal squad.

The newspaper noted that while a Shaheen Air station manager denied a threat and cited "operational reasons" for the delay, officials from Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and security forces confirmed the flight was off-loaded following a bomb threat.

Another Pakistani newspaper, the Express Tribune, quoted a CAA official as saying the airport was closed while the incident was investigated.

"We can't risk people's lives," the spokesman, George Pervaiz, was quoted as saying.

The airport was later re-opened and the flight, which was scheduled to arrive at 5 PM UAE time will now arrive at 8 pm.

reporters@khaleejtimes.com