FLIGHT GROUNDED FOLLOWING BOMB THREAT

A SilkAir flight was grounded on 28 July 2009 after airport authorities received a bomb threat. Flight MI 541, which was scheduled to depart from Cebu International Airport at approximately 1330 local time for Singapore with more than 130 passengers, received the threat just minutes before it was set to take off. All 127 passengers and seven crew members were safely evacuated. Police officials surrounded the aircraft, which was then moved to an isolated location to undergo inspection. The aircraft's cargo bay and the luggage were thoroughly inspected before the flight was allowed to take off at 1830 local time. The source of the threat remains unknown.