Bomb threat on a South African plane with 184 passengers

The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Eastern Cape reported that an aircraft had landed at King Phalo Airport following a bomb threat.

King Phalo Airport, formerly known as East London Airport, is the primary commercial airport serving East London in the Eastern Cape.

It was renamed in February 2021 from East London Airport to King Phalo Airport as part of South Africa’s national geographical place-name changes.

The airport is owned and operated by Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) and serves 600,000 passengers annually.

The King Phalo Airport handles between 20 and 30 domestic flight arrivals and departures per day.

On Wednesday, 21 October 2026, the SA Police Service said it received a call from an unknown caller using a private number.

The caller alleged the presence of a bomb on the aircraft, which forced it to land at the airport in East London.

“The aircraft is currently being held as part of standard security protocols. All 184 passengers on board have safely disembarked,” the SAPS said.

A multidisciplinary response team has been activated and is on the scene, which includes a bomb disposal unit and K9 explosive detection dogs.

The team also includes hostage negotiators, disaster management, airport security, and emergency medical services.

“The scene is being managed by the relevant authorities, and investigations into the origin of the threat are ongoing,” the SAPS said.

The SA Police Service added that no further information about the bomb threat and the situation on the ground is available at this stage.

“The public is advised not to speculate and to allow security agencies to conduct their work without interference,” it said.