Bomb Threat Delays KLM Flight at Malaga Airport by Nearly Four Hours

Flight Delayed After Online Bomb Threat

A KLM Boeing 737-BK2 scheduled to fly from Malaga Airport to Amsterdam on Saturday evening was delayed by nearly four hours following an anonymous online threat. The flight, originally scheduled to depart at 8:30pm, did not take off until 12:42am.

An anonymous message posted online stated that "everyone on board would die", prompting airport security and law enforcement to take immediate action before passengers boarded.

Guardia Civil and TEDAX Response

The Guardia Civil isolated the aircraft and called in TEDAX — Spain's specialist bomb disposal unit — to carry out a thorough inspection. Officers searched the plane's interior, all passenger luggage, and checked baggage hold-to-hold before clearing the aircraft as safe.

Authorities confirmed that there was zero risk to passengers or crew. Investigators are now working to identify the source of the anonymous threat. No arrests have been made.

Not the First Incident at Malaga

Malaga Airport has a history of bomb-related incidents and scares:

• In 2001, ETA detonated a 60kg car bomb in the airport car park, injuring several people
• In 2005, a passenger on a Sterling Airlines flight was arrested after making a bomb joke on board
• In 2007, an Aer Lingus flight was evacuated on the runway after a suspicious item was found, with 303 passengers disembarking via emergency slides

Saturday's incident follows established protocol: any credible threat triggers a full TEDAX inspection before a flight can proceed. The delay, while disruptive, allowed all passengers to continue their journey to Amsterdam once the aircraft was cleared.

This article is based on reporting from Euro Weekly News, published May 10, 2026.