UPDATED: Sunday, Nov. 22 at 8.20 p.m. AEST: In a statement emailed to Mashable, Turkish Airlines confirmed a bomb alert had caused the diversion of flight TK2 to Halifax. After a security check that found nothing suspicious, the flight is set to continue to Istanbul, the airline said.
A Turkish Airlines flight from New York to Istanbul diverted and made an emergency landing in Nova Scotia, Canada on early Sunday morning local time after a threat was reportedly made against the aircraft.
Flight TK2, which took off from New York's John F. Kennedy airport Saturday headed for Ataturk Airport in Istanbul landed at Halifax Stanfield International at 12:53 a.m. AST, according to a tweet from Halifax Airport. Two hundred and fifty-six people were said to be on board.
Turkish Airlines Flight #2 NYC to Ankara diverted to Hfx Stanfield. Landed safely at 12:53am. All safe. 256 on board. RCMP attending.— Halifax Airport (@HfxStanfield) November 22, 2015
On Twitter, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Nova Scotia, confirmed the agency was responding to reports of a bomb threat aboard the plane.
#RCMP responding to report of bomb threat on board Turkish Airlines flight from #NewYork to #Istanbul— RCMP, Nova Scotia (@RCMPNS) November 22, 2015
#RCMP is looking to establish the origin of the threat and identify the person or persons responsible.@HfxStanfield— RCMP, Nova Scotia (@RCMPNS) November 22, 2015
The RCMP said they would use trained dogs to search for any explosives.
#RCMP will be searching the Turkish Airlines plane using police dogs trained in explosives. @HfxStanfield— RCMP, Nova Scotia (@RCMPNS) November 22, 2015
Reporters on the scene said emergency vehicles were ready to meet the plane as it landed.
Vehicles arriving behind the Turkish Airlines plane in HFX @CBCNS #cbcns pic.twitter.com/DVPWELZ07V— SteveBerry (@SteveBerryCBC) November 22, 2015
Passengers were also unloaded from the plane.
Turkish Airlines passengers' move to terminal building underway @halifaxstanfield. All going smoothly. @RCMPNS attending, investigating.— Halifax Airport (@HfxStanfield) November 22, 2015
Passengers boarding Halifax Transit busses to be taken to a secure area at the airport. pic.twitter.com/H1yfgZZXHd— Kayla Hounsell (@KHounsellCTV) November 22, 2015
The incident comes only days after two Air France planes were grounded in Salt Lake City and Halifax respectively after anonymous bomb threats were called in. The FBI later told Reuters no evidence had been found that "would lend credibility to the threats."
This story is developing