False Bomb Scare at JKIA Forces Johannesburg-Bound KQ Flight to Abort Take-Off, Man Arrested

A man who has forced Johannesburg-bound Kenya Airways flight to abort take off on Wednesday after raising a false bomb alarm has been arrested.

The man is said to have shouted 'bomb' inside the plane as it prepared to depart, causing panic at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

The unnamed man allegedly raised the false alarm during an argument with one of the flight attendants.

This forced authorities to place the airport on temporary lockdown, grounding all flights for re-screening.

“KQ would like to report that the passenger who raised the bomb scare has been taken into police custody. All the other passengers and crew have disembarked for security re-screening and the aircraft is undergoing extensive security checks,” KQ said in a statement.

In a follow-up statement, KQ says affected passengers have since been processed and the flight – KQ 762 – cleared for take-off at 7:30 pm.

“The diverted flights have also now been cleared to land at JKIA as the temporary shutdown has been lifted,” says KQ.

The suspect has been handed to the Anti-Terror Police Unit for further interrogation.