Turkish Airlines Flight Disrupted by Passenger's Hotspot Name

A Turkish Airlines flight, designated TK1853, encountered a surprising interruption during its journey from Istanbul to Barcelona one Thursday morning.

A member of the crew raised an alarm when they found a mobile hotspot onboard had a network name suggesting a bomb threat.

Yahya Üstün, the airline’s spokesperson, communicated via a post on the platform X, explaining that the concern arose from a passenger's choice to name their in-flight internet connection in a provocative manner.

Upon receiving the alert, the aircraft, a model Airbus A321, proceeded to land safely at Barcelona's El Prat airport. There, Spanish authorities promptly initiated an examination of the situation.

Subsequent communications from Üstün confirmed that no actual threats or security concerns were discovered during the inspection. Authorities are now focusing on tracking down the individual responsible for the hotspot.

Tracking information from FlightRadar24 illustrated that the airplane performed two circling maneuvers off Barcelona's eastern coastline, spending around 20 minutes doing so before completing its course to Barcelona.

Spain's Civil Guard provided reassurance to Reuters, noting that thorough checks were conducted post-landing and the absence of any explosive materials was confirmed.

The aircraft touched down in Barcelona approximately at 11 a.m. on Thursday, which was 30 minutes later than initially planned.

Requests for comments from Turkish Airlines and the Spanish Civil Guard were made by Business Insider, though neither party offered immediate responses.

Events in Context: Similar Incidents Involving Bomb Threats

This incident joins a series of similar events in recent years where flights have been forced to divert due to threats of explosives.

For instance, in October 2024, a flight operated by Air India, heading to Chicago and carrying over 200 passengers, had to reroute to a small town in Canada following a suspected bomb threat.

Likewise, in November 2023, a United Airlines aircraft traveling from Los Angeles to Vancouver was obligated to detour to San Francisco after a bomb threat was declared, as confirmed by airport officials in San Francisco.