Bomb threat triggers security operation at Murcia airport

Aena activated its security protocol at Murcia International Airport on Tuesday 3 November after a bomb threat was reported about a Ryanair aircraft arriving from Manchester. The aircraft landed within its scheduled time, according to the airport operator.

The plane carried 114 passengers and seven crew members. They disembarked so the Policía Nacional could carry out security checks, according to the Government delegation in the Region of Murcia. The checks were part of the response to the alert; the authorities had not announced a finding about a device.

Guardia Civil TEDAX specialists travelled from Alicante and inspected the aircraft to determine whether anything was on board. The matter was left to the Guardia Civil after Aena activated the protocol.

A wider operation brought together the Guardia Civil, the Policía Nacional, firefighters and medical staff from the 112 emergency service. A crisis committee was also established at the airport. Government delegation sources described the response as a large security deployment from the moment the aircraft landed.

Francisco Lucas, the Government’s delegate in the Region of Murcia, was identified as the senior central-government representative in the region. The reports did not say whether airport services were delayed.

The reports describe an active inspection and passenger checks, not a confirmed explosive device. They did not identify who made the threat or provide a result from the search. Aena manages Spain’s main airports; the checks and aircraft inspection involved separate national police forces.

The response had two distinct stages: passenger screening by the Policía Nacional and a technical inspection of the aircraft by TEDAX. Reports said teams were mobilised from the moment the plane landed, but gave no final inspection result or official resolution of the alert.

Sources: Expansión, Europa Press, ABC and El Mundo.