Spokesperson to FlySAfair, Kirby Gordon, said the passenger in question experienced an epileptic seizure during the flight from Cape Town on Sunday 26 March 2023. “In accordance with their extensive training, the crew took quick action and assisted the passenger,” he added. After the crew identified that the passenger required further urgent care, a decision was taken to divert the flight to Bram Fischer, as it was the closest airport at the time.

ALSO READ: Flight diverted following bomb scare at Bram Fischer

Gordon explained that the flight landed shortly after 17:00, and was welcomed by the airport’s medical team who quickly provided the passenger with the medical assistance they required. It was only after the crew had handed over the required information to the medical personnel, that the flight departed Bram Fischer to Johannesburg, arriving shortly after 18:00. “FlySafair would like to thank our team for their professionalism in managing the situation and the other customers on board for their patience in allowing us to see to the needs of this particular passenger,” he concluded.

It is at the moment unclear if the passenger in question is still in Bloemfontein, or has been flown out to Johannesburg.

ALSO READ: 28-year-old man arrested at Bfn airport for possession of hand grenade

Earlier in January 2022, a flight to Bloemfontein had to be diverted at the last minute following a reported bomb threat at the airport. The Bram Fischer Airport confirmed to OFM News that at around 08:30, security officials alerted local police of a bomb threat. During a security check, they detected explosives in one of the passenger’s belongings. The building was promptly evacuated to safeguard the lives of employees and passengers and a Cape Town flight was redirected. According to the airport, the police’s bomb squad analysed the explosives. They determined that it was a dummy grenade and the passenger to whom it belonged was taken in by law enforcement officials for questioning.

Police arrested a 28-year-old man for being in possession of a drill hand grenade. According to police spokesperson Thabo Covane, the scanner at the airport detected the metal inside the bag and the round object was visible on the monitor. 

When the security officer physically searched the bag, a drill hand grenade was found. The suspect walked into the airport with the drill hand grenade inside his bag despite pictures at the counter with messages of prohibited objects that passengers cannot board the flight with or bring to the airport. 

Covane explained “an immediate decision was taken to activate the evacuation alarm because of the possibility of a threat in the terminal building. The Bomb Disposal Unit was also summoned to the scene to handle the evidence and sweep the building. The building was declared safe and operations continued as normal.

OFM News