Bomb Scare Cancels Flights at Laguindingan Airport

Several flights were cancelled on Thursday at Laguindingan International Airport after reports of a bomb scare.

Image Source: Chadacdo.com

Bomb sniffing dogs were called in on Thursday afternoon to inspect a car that had been left parked overnight in the VIP parking area of the newly-opened airport. The PNP Aviation Security Group bomb experts became concerned when one of the dogs sat besides the vehicle, an indication of a possible explosive. According to Catalino Rodriguez, Chief Superintendent of the Region 10 Police Force, bomb experts inspected the Toyota Avanza vehicle that was parked near the airport but recovered only spray paints. "There wasn't any bomb," said Rodriguez. The owner of the vehicle is reported to be a rental company.

At least five flights were prevented from landing at Languindingan Airport as a result of the bomb scare. Both PAL Express and Cebu Pacific were forced to cancel and divert flights on Thursday afternoon. Two flights were diverted to Davao International Airport while another was instructed to return to Manila.

Several explosion incidents have been reported in the Mindanao region over the past days including a recent deadly blast at a shopping complex in Cagayan de Oro on July 26 where eight people were killed.