One killed, dozens injured in plane stampede

One passenger was killed and dozens were injured today in a stampede to evacuate a Saudi Air flight after a bomb threat was phoned in to Sri Lanka’s only international airport in Colombo.

At least 12 people were admitted to the nearby hospitals while dozens of others suffered minor injuries, according air force spokesman Ajantha de Silva.

The plane, carrying more than 400 passengers including 19 crew, was taxiing on the runway when the pilot received a call from the control tower about a bomb threat, de Silva said.

The plane was brought to a halt, and the emergency doors were opened. Panic-stricken passengers poured out, he said.

Champika Wickremesinghe, medical officer at the nearby Negombo hospital, confirmed the death and said four passengers had been admitted for treatment.

A search operation was being carried out, but the airport had not been shut down. Saudi Air Flight SV 781 was destined for Riyadh and Jeddah, officials said.

An airport duty manager said authorities were searching the plane for a bomb, but nothing had been found. They were also checking luggage and running baggage through X-ray machines in a search of explosives.

“The pilot announced there was a bomb scare aboard a Saudi flight and all flights are delayed,” said Ruth Bater, a passenger on board a SriLankan Airlines flight to London.

She said all passengers on the flight were asked to disembark and boarded again an hour later.