Kabul denies nod to Vistara plane to use airspace

Afghanistan authorities on Sunday did not permit a Frankfurt-bound Vistara plane to use its airspace as there was a bomb threat, forcing the aircraft to return to Delhi, according to sources.

The flight UK25 from the national Capital to Frankfurt in Germany was operated with a Boeing 787 aircraft and had more than 240 persons onboard, they said.

The sources said the bomb threat was classified as “non-specific” and it was decided that the flight would continue its journey to Frankfurt. However, the Afghanistan authorities did not give permission to overfly its airspace since there was a bomb threat, the sources added.

There was no immediate comment from the airline on the matter. The sources said after the Afghanistan authorities denied permission to overfly its airspace, the aircraft returned and landed safely at the Delhi airport at around 1620 hours. It had taken off from the airport at around 1310 hours.