Etihad flight from Dublin to UAE diverted over security threat

An aircraft operated by Etihad Airways from Dublin to Abu Dhabi was diverted on Friday following a security threat onboard.

Flight EY042, operated by a Boeing 777 jet, left Dublin Airport at 8.30am on Friday, February 10.

But it was diverted to the Al Minhad Air Base in Dubai following a “security threat” onboard, the airline said in a statement.

The exact nature of the threat was not disclosed.

“The crew completed all necessary inflight checks as per procedure, with no abnormalities found, then followed the authorities instructions to undergo further security checks at the Air Base,” a spokesperson said.

“Upon disembarking, the guests, baggage and aircraft went through additional security screening which took several hours. Throughout this process, the guests were accommodated in the Air Base and were provided with refreshments. Guests then boarded police escorted buses to Abu Dhabi airport to be processed through the terminal.”

The majority of transit passengers were re-booked on Saturday morning flights (February 11) and were provided overnight accommodation in Abu Dhabi.

“Etihad Airways apologises for the inconvenience caused – however, the safety and security of our guests and crew is our top priority,” the statement added.