A "bomb threat" incident aboard an aircraft travelling from Tel Aviv to Athens' Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport unfolded on Thursday evening, prompting the swift deployment of authorities and special forces.
The situation ultimately turned out to be a prank orchestrated by an alleged Canadian journalist.
According to preliminary information from the media, at 6:10 p.m. on Thursday, the individual approached an information kiosk at the airport and falsely claimed that there was a bomb on the plane arriving from Tel Aviv. He asserted that he was a Canadian journalist, purportedly assigned to cover the Canadian Air Force's evacuation of Canadian citizens from Israel. He further alleged that he aimed to "test the readiness of Greek authorities at Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport" by falsely reporting a bomb on a flight from Israel.
The 27-year-old Canadian national is presently in custody at the airport's security facility, where authorities are verifying his status as a journalist. It is likely that he will face charges related to the unnecessary mobilization of authorities.
Upon the flight's arrival in Athens from Tel Aviv, security forces and trained dogs conducted a thorough inspection of the aircraft.
This post was last modified on October 13, 2023 12:18 pm