At first it seemed nothing more than a minor technical hitch.
The captain’s announcement – that he needed to sort out a small problem – barely raised an eyebrow among the 146 passengers waiting to depart on Easyjet flight EZS 975 from Geneva to London Gatwick.
A few minutes later, the captain came over the intercom again.
“Ladies and gentleman, we have to tell you that a note has been found on board, with the word ‘bomb’.
“It is probably a stupid hoax, but we have to take these things very seriously.”
Everyone on board – business travellers on day trips and British holidaymakers returning from the sunny Alpine ski slopes – would have to be evacuated while a full search of the Airbus A319 was carried out.
Signs of anger
It was reassuring to be told the note was very probably nothing more than a prank, and there was no panic.
At the same time, it seemed disconcerting that more than half an hour passed before arrangements were made to leave the plane.
If a bomb warning is being taken seriously, one might think passengers would be evacuated as quickly as possible.
Easyjet said because the note was thought to be a hoax, police had wanted to prepare a secure area for passengers in case the perpetrator was on the plane.
Eventually we were taken by bus to a large, featureless transit room, where airport managers explained the aircraft search would take “some time”.
This elicited the first signs of anger from passengers demanding to know exactly how long it would be. Two hours, we were told.
Bomb squad
The police and Switzerland’s Special Bomb Squadron arrived to search the aircraft and passengers luggage.
We would each have to be individually identified and have our passports checked against computer records; have our hand luggage searched; and identify our suitcases after they were unloaded from the plane.
Two hours seemed optimistic.
It was to the airline and the airport’s credit that passengers were kept in good humoured resignation over the next few hours, rather than stewing in increasing frustration.
Free food and drinks appeared.
So did Easyjet’s handling manager Maurizio Anichini, who made the announcement that our flight was finally cancelled, and we would be put up in local hotels.
“I will be around all evening. I won’t be going to bed until all of you have gone to bed”, he reassured us.
By midnight, everyone was accommodated. Passengers were transferred back to Geneva airport early in the morning, and arrived safely at Gatwick later.
Easyjet said no bomb was found.
It is thought to be only the second such incident in the airline’s nine year history.
But what appears to have been the thoughtless prank of one person on Wednesday night resulted in delay to 146 passengers and six crew; inconvenience to dozens of airport, airline and security staff; and a cost to Easyjet of thousands of pounds.
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