Turkey scrambled an F-16 fighter jet to accompany a passenger plane arriving in Istanbul from Ukraine after a bomb threat was made by a passenger demanding to go to the Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Television footage showed the Pegasus Airlines flight from the Ukrainian city of Kharkov arriving in Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen airport.
Photo: AFP
Turkish media said special forces seized the suspect and took the passenger away for questioning, Reuters reported.
The passenger was believed to have drunk alcohol and was calmed down by the crew and persuaded to let the plane, a Boeing 737-800, land in Istanbul about 6pm local time.
An official from Turkey's transport ministry said there were 110 passengers on board and confirmed that a bomb threat had been made but said the plane had landed safely.
Security teams were continuing inspections on the plane, the ministry said in a statement.
The scare came after the US Transportation Security Administration had temporarily banned carry-on liquids, aerosols, gels and powders on flights between Russia and the United States.
The United States issued a warning on Wednesday to airports and some airlines flying to Russia for the Olympics to watch for toothpaste tubes that could hold ingredients to make a bomb on board a plane.
