(CMR) Operations at airports in Bermuda, Tortola, and Anguilla were affected Sunday and Monday morning after these facilities reportedly received messages of bomb threats. There are also reports that the email was also sent to the Cayman Islands, as British Overseas Territories (OTs) have been the target of the persons behind the emails.
However, officials have not reported a bomb threat in the Cayman Islands. Police have warned of a phishing email from [email protected], which suggests a bomb hoax for the Cayman Islands national carrier.
According to BVI News, the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island was abruptly closed on Sunday, May 5, due to a bomb threat. The BVI Airports Authority (BVIAA) stated that it resumed normal operations at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 5.
Head of the BVIAA Kurt Menal said the decision to reopen the airport was made after the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force conducted a “complete sweep” of the facility and surrounding areas.
Also on Sunday, passengers on a British Airways flight in Bermuda were evacuated after someone emailed in a bomb threat to the LF Wade International Airport.
A spokesperson for the airport told the Royal Gazette that “At approximately 9 p.m, LF Wade International Airport received a bomb threat sent to the airport offices via e-mail threatening the terminal and British Airways flight 158, which was due to depart for London Heathrow.”
“This prompted an immediate evacuation of the terminal building while the British Airways Boeing 777 aircraft was repositioned to a remote airfield location where passengers safely deplaned. Flight 158 was subsequently canceled,” she said
The spokesperson said that Following a sweep of the terminal building by the Bermuda Police Service and Skyport officials, passengers from the British Airways flight were bused back to the terminal building, where airline personnel assisted them with transportation and accommodations.
American Airlines flight 409, which was en route from Miami when the threat was received, diverted to Norfolk, Virginia.
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