Plane over Italy ordered back to Athens, another grounded after intel report cited 'suspicious' passenger
- Written by E.Tsiliopoulos
One Emirates airliner set to take off from Athens for Dubai on Thursday remained grounded at the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport while another airborne aircraft, of the same carrier but with another destination, was forced to return to the Greek airport after intelligence reports cited a “suspicious” passenger on board.
According to initial reports out of the Greek capital, the US CIA informed Greek authorities of a "suspicious" foreign national, of Arab descent, possibly on board one of the two planes.
The second plane in the air, in fact, was escorted back to the Athens international airport by a pair of Hellenic Air Force fighter planes. A Greek Police anti-terrorist squad and a K-9 unit subsequently searched the plane and passengers.
Earlier, Flight EK210, a Boeing 777 headed for Dubai, was ordered back to the terminal in Athens while taxiing for take-off.
A second plane servicing the EK 209 route to NYC was ordered back to Athens while flying over Italy, as Italian and French authorities declined allowing the aircraft to land on their territory.
Passengers aboard both jetliners were subsequently re-screened and checked.
Related items
-
ExxonMobil estimates 6-9 trillion CF NG in Block 10 in Cyprus
-
EU countries approve Russian gas import ban by 2027
-
Man who murdered his mother was released after only four years in prison and went on to kill his father
-
Fire at cookie factory - 4 dead, one still missing
-
Greek shipowners are the stars of shipbuilding and ship purchases
Latest from E.Tsiliopoulos
- ExxonMobil estimates 6-9 trillion CF NG in Block 10 in Cyprus
- EU countries approve Russian gas import ban by 2027
- Man who murdered his mother was released after only four years in prison and went on to kill his father
- Fire at cookie factory - 4 dead, one still missing
- Greek shipowners are the stars of shipbuilding and ship purchases
