Bomb Threat Forces Aircraft to Land at King Phalo Airport in Eastern Cape
- A bomb threat targeting a passenger aircraft prompted an emergency landing at King Phalo Airport in KuGompo on Wednesday, 21 October 2026
- All 184 passengers on board disembarked safely as SAPS and specialised units were deployed to the airport
- Police are now hunting for the unknown caller who made the threat from a private number
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Source: Getty Images
EASTERN CAPE — A bomb threat forced a passenger aircraft to make an unscheduled landing at King Phalo Airport in KuGompo (formerly East London) on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, triggering an immediate security response.
Journalist Jeanette Chabalala posted a statement on X about the crash. Eastern Cape police confirmed that an unknown individual, calling from a private number, contacted authorities claiming a bomb was on board the aircraft. All 184 passengers disembarked safely following the landing.
SAPS deploys specialised units to airport
The South African Police Service and specialised units were swiftly deployed to King Phalo Airport to conduct a full investigation of the aircraft and its surroundings. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether any explosive device was found during the search. Police have since launched a manhunt to identify and trace the person responsible for making the call.
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Key details still to be confirmed
The airline involved, the flight's route, and the outcome of the search have not been disclosed at the time of publication. Briefly News will update this story as further information becomes available.
Source: Briefly News
