Newsroom
A security alert was issued at Larnaca Airport on Monday morning after authorities received information that a suspected terrorist was aboard an incoming flight from Moldova.
Police and fire brigade units rushed to the scene as the Fly One flight from Chișinău landed. The aircraft was immediately isolated in a secure area, with initial instructions to keep all passengers on board.
Authorities are considering the possibility that the tip-off was a false alarm. The pilot reportedly informed officials that everything was calm on board and that he was unaware of any suspicious activity. The alert was triggered by information sent from Moldova to Fly One's representative in Cyprus.
Despite the heightened security, Larnaca Airport remains fully operational. Minister of Transport Alexis Vafeades confirmed that police were conducting a thorough search of the aircraft, while Maria Kouroupi, Director of Aviation Development at Hermes Airports, reassured that airport activities were continuing as normal.
At around midday, members of the anti-terrorist squad removed a specific passenger from the plane for questioning. Police then began disembarking all passengers for on-the-spot identification of their luggage, with trained sniffer dogs assisting in the inspection.
Authorities have yet to confirm whether the threat was credible, but the operation remains ongoing.
