BA A319 Diverted, Escorted After "Hoax"

For the third time in a week, a commercial passenger aircraft in Europe has diverted from its intended destination after becoming the subject of specific -- and apparently credible -- threats. In none of the three cases has any weapon or bomb been found.

"It's all over. It was a hoax," said Dutch police commander Marcel Witteveen, speaking with reporters at Schiphol airport near Amsterdam after the latest incident. A British Airways A319 flying from Berlin to London with 118 passengers on board was escorted to the airfield by a pair of F-16s after its pilot asked to be diverted.

"The decision to divert was taken by the captain and the aircraft was escorted into the airport by the Dutch military. The safety and security of our passengers is our number one priority and will not be compromised," BA said in a statement quoted by the Reuters news agency.

"It was a bomb threat," a Dutch justice ministry spokesman was quoted by Reuters as saying. "We have found no signs that it was meant to be a terror act. There is no terror organisation involved."

Earlier this week, two Greek Olympic Airlines planes from Athens to New York were diverted to Britain and Ireland after they were targeted by threats. Again, they turned out to be hoaxes.

FMI: www.tsa.gov