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Fighter jets scrambled to Brit TUI flight to Lanzarote after terrifying bomb threat note is found in toilet
Some passengers tried texting family to let them know about what was happening
TUI TERROR PANIC Fighter jets scrambled to Brit TUI flight to Lanzarote after terrifying bomb threat note is found in toilet
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HOLIDAYMAKERS were left terrified after a bomb threat note was found on a Brit TUI flight from Cardiff to Lanzarote - forcing fighter jets to scramble.
Cheryl Sainsbury, 43 and her pals, from Pontypridd, were all smiles en route to the Canaries - until the pilot made a chilling mid-air announcement.
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Cheryl Sainsbury and her three pals Leanne Thomas, Cherie Gurner and Tara Pumford were on a TUI flight to Lanzarote
Credit: WalesOnline/Media Wales
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An emergency security protocol was triggered after a bomb threat note was found in the bathroom as the plane was flying over Portugal
Credit: Alamy
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Two Portuguese fighter jets escorted the plane to Lanzarote
Credit: Amanda Davies/Media Wales
While flying over Portugal on Thursday morning, Welsh pals Cheryl, Leanne Thomas, Cherie Gurner and Tara Pumford were stunned when the pilot announced the plane must land urgently due to reports of a "device" on board.
Cheryl said: "We were sort of looking at each other thinking 'what's he on about'?
"We were all scared but there was no sense of panic as such on board. Everybody seemed to come together and just looked out for each other. We all wanted to make sure everyone was ok."
Everyone was told to remain in their seats.
The crew searched under the seats and in the overhead lockers to check that all the luggage was accounted for.
Cheryl said: "I think they were looking for a black rucksack."
Passengers reportedly tried to message loved ones to tell them what was happening as they anxiously waited for updates from the cabin crew.
The group initially thought someone had phoned in a bomb threat - only later did they learn a handwritten note was found by a crew member in one of the aircraft's toilets.
The pilot then announced a risk assessment had been done and the threat was deemed low, meaning the plane would no longer be landing earlier in Portugal.
But for everyone's safety, two Portuguese fighter jets escorted the plane to its destination of Arrecife in Lanzarote.
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The plane safely landed in Cesar Manrique airport in Lanzarote
Credit: Alamy
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Lanzarote is a popular holiday destination for Brits
Credit: Getty
Harrowing moment plane comes terrifyingly close to helicopter as it takes off at airport
Cheryl said: "Once we landed on the ground, it was the biggest celebration and sense of relief.
"We were taken to a remote part of the airport and there were police and fire engines surrounding the plane. We had to get off one-by-one."
The group then had to wait for the emergency services on the ground to check through the luggage before they were allowed to leave.
Cheryl explained: "We had to stand on the tarmac with all the luggage but we weren't allowed to touch of any of it.
"They brought sniffer dogs and the bomb squad so we just had to stand their and watch before they let us on the bus.
"We got taken to some form of compound where there were no refreshments and just one toilet.
"We just had to wait their until they had approval from the police to let us go to get back to the normal part of the airport where we could go through immigration and collect our cases."
The friends are now unwinding in Lanzarote with a drink or two to help 'settle their nerves' after the ordeal.
They are due to fly back home on Sunday - and are hoping that flight will be less eventful.
Cheryl said: "It was such a weird experience especially as I'm a quite anxious flyer so I don't know how we did it. Even though we were all scared, we just stuck together and tried to keep it calm."
She added that the cabin crew from TUI remained calm and were "brilliant" with all the passengers.
Specialists from the GEDEX (Explosives Deactivation Group), the Fiscal and Border Section, investigation units and citizen security patrols all intervened, as reported by The Sun on Thursday.
The inspection found no explosive device on board.
Flight BY6422 landed at Lanzarote airport at around 10.55am on Thursday.
A spokesperson for Cardiff Airport said: 'We are aware of an incident involving flight TOM6422 from Cardiff to Lanzarote on 19/06/25.
"The safety of our passengers is our number one priority. No concerns or suspicious activity were raised prior to departure.'
Spain's Civil Guard has launched an investigation to determine who wrote the note.
The force stressed that this type of act is a serious crime, as it causes alarm, compromises public safety and forces specialised resources to be used.
TUI has been contacted for comment.
