AVIATION/ BOMB THREATS DIVERT 2 AIRLINERS

2 bomb threats against aircraft inflight were received yesterday by officials in Moscow, Russia, prompting both aircraft to divert. In the 1st incident, GROZNY AVIA Flight 723 was on Domestic Yak 42 Service from Moscow Vnukovo Airport to Grozny, Russia, with 73 passengers and crew onboard. About 90 minutes after departure, a phone call from Belarus to Vnukovo Airport indicated that there was a bomb onboard Flgiht 723. The Yak was diverted to Volgograd, Russia, where it landed and quickly taxied to a remote stand. Passengers and crew were then evacuated from the aircraft. A search of the aircraft, and all luggage and cargo, failed to find any explosives. Passengers were also interviewed and searched with no problems noted. The Yak, pictured above, was allowed to depart 4 hours after the diversion and arrived in Grozny without incident. In the 2nd incident, SINGAPORE AIRLINES Flight 61 was on International Boeing 777 Service, with 262 passengers and crew onboard, from Houston, Texas, to Singapore, with a stop at Moscow Domodedovo Airport. While inflight overhead India last evening, officials in Moscow notified the Airline and Indian officials that they had received a bomb threat for Flight 61. The Captain of Flight 61 was then notified and requested diversion to Delhi, India, however this was denied. The opening ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games was taking place and a NOTAM, forbidding any unscheduled aircraft from landing in Delhi,  was in place for security reasons due to fears of terrorism. The Captain of Flight 61 was then directed to Kolkata, India, and the 777 landed there at 11:30pm last evening. The aircraft taxied to a remote stand and was evacuated. No explosives were found during a search of the aircraft, luggage and cargo. This morning, the aircraft remains on the ground in Kolkata. Officials in Russia and India, along with both Airlines, are investigating the incidents. Thus far, Russian officials have not said if the 2 threats were related.