'Terror chat' delays for four hours Saudi flight to Dubai

A Saudi flight to Dubai was delayed for nearly four hours on Tuesday after a chat between two passengers about terror threats to aircraft triggered security alert at the airport in the Gulf Kingdom, a newspaper reported on Wednesday.

A steward on board Saudia flight 588 from the Red Sea port of Jeddah to Dubai overheard the two foreign passengers chatting about threats to flights and immediately informed the pilot, 'Sabq' said.

“The captain decided to postpone the flight and informed airport security authorities. They boarded the plane and escorted the two passengers to their airport office for interrogation before releasing them later,” it said.

It quoted Saudia spokesman Abdul Rahman Al Fahd as saying the measures were intended to ensure the safety of the passengers and the aircraft’s cabin crew.

“We also wanted to draw the attention of the passengers about the need to avert talking about terrorism or even making any hint about violence.”

Sabq said the aircraft took off four hours later and landed in Dubai’s airport safely after the two passengers pledged to refrain from any threatening conversation.

“Saudia does not tolerate in such cases even if it has to delay or cancel the flight. The safety of the passengers and cabin crew is a priority,” Al Fahd said.

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