Turkish Airlines flight diverted after mid-air bomb threat

A Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Sao Paulo in Brazil has been forced to make an emergency landing after a note with the word "bomb" written on it was reportedly found in the aircraft's toilets. 

Airline officials said pilots on the Boeing 777 declared an emergency and the flight was diverted to the Moroccan city of Casablanca, where it landed safely. 

All 256 passengers aboard Flight TK15 have been evacuated and checks are now underway to establish whether any explosives were on the plane.

Turkish Airlines confirmed the flight had been subjected to a bomb threat.

"Turkish Airlines Istanbul - Sao Paulo flight today has diverted to Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport after a bomb threat," the airline said in a statement.

"The necessary investigation onboard is continuing and the decision concerning the continuation of the flight to Sao Paulo will be decided according to the result of such investigation."

All flights arriving at Casablanca airport were temporarily suspended but have resumed landing. 

It is the second such incident in two days involving the airline. 

Flight TK52 from Istanbul to Tokyo was also forced to make an emergency landing after a note with "C-4 Cargo" written on it was found, also in the plane's toilet. 

It is believed to refer to the well-known plastic explosive, C-4. 

The scare comes less than a week after the Germanwings tragedy in the French Alps killed all 150 on board. 

Co-pilot Andreas Lubitz, 27, has been accused of deliberately flying the jet into a mountainside in a catastrophic murder-suicide plot.