Dubbo airport reopens after bomb threat on Qantas plane forces evacuation
Updated . First published at
Qantas has thanked passengers for their behaviour during what it described as an “unsettling and disruptive incident”, after an alleged bomb threat on the airline’s flight into a regional NSW airport this morning.
The incident grounded flights and forced the evacuation of the entire Dubbo Regional Airport, which serves as a transport hub for western NSW, at around 10.30am on Monday.
Emergency services including police, fire crews and paramedics rushed to the scene.
Dubbo Regional Airport was evacuated this morning over a bomb threat. Facebook
“We recognise this would have been unsettling and disruptive for customers and we thank them for following the instructions of our crew and the local authorities,” a Qantas spokesperson said in a statement.
“Safety is always our first priority.”
Earlier, Dubbo Mayor Josh Black said the council was notified of the bomb threat.
“The plane has landed safely and all 74 passengers and crew have disembarked,” he wrote in a statement.
“Further investigations are underway by relevant emergency services.”
NSW Police have confirmed to nine.com.au that officers remain on scene at the airport and are investigating a threatening call that was made in relation to a flight.
“There is no immediate risk to public safety,” a NSW Police spokesperson said.
NSW Police’s specialist bomb disposal unit were called in to search the aeroplane.
The airport reopened to the public shortly after midday.
Dubbo Regional Airport’s website shows in-bound and out-bound flights were subsequently rescheduled with delays of just under an hour.
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