A Turkish Airlines aircraft was compelled to execute an emergency landing at Barcelona-El Prat International Airport on Thursday following the discovery of a disturbing bomb threat transmitted via an unconventional method—a personal Wi-Fi network. The incident occurred aboard flight TK1853, an Airbus A321 en route from Istanbul to Barcelona.
According to airline spokesperson Yahya Üstün, the threat emerged as the flight was on its final approach. A passenger allegedly established a personal wireless hotspot within the cabin. The network’s name (SSID), visible to others attempting to connect to in-flight Wi-Fi, was configured to include a message indicating a bomb was on the aircraft. This prompted the flight crew to initiate emergency protocols immediately.
The plane landed safely under emergency conditions and was met by Spanish security forces on the tarmac. Spain’s Civil Guard, a national police force with responsibilities in border and transport security, swiftly launched an investigation. A comprehensive security sweep of the aircraft and all luggage was conducted. Authorities confirmed that no explosives or any other threatening devices were found onboard, classifying the event as a severe hoax.
Following the all-clear from security personnel, normal operations resumed at Barcelona’s airport. Turkish Airlines stated that the return flight service would continue as scheduled, emphasizing that safety procedures were followed correctly. The individual suspected of creating the fraudulent network was detained for questioning by police, potentially facing serious legal consequences for initiating a false security alert.