Following the inspection of the aircraft, security authorities at Las Américas International Airport ruled out any real threat, the airline explained. The flight was rescheduled for the same Tuesday. The bomb threat, allegedly placed on a Copa Airlines aircraft, which turned out to be false, caused this Tuesday the "momentary" paralysis of the Dominican Republic's main airport and the diversion of two flights to the cities of Santiago (north) and Punta Cana (east), sources at the terminal reported. The situation occurred at Las Américas International Airport (AILA) in Santo Domingo province, whose operators received a bomb threat that led to the immediate activation of corresponding security protocols and a momentary paralysis of airport operations, the concessionaire company Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI said in a note to EFE. "The situation was handled in a timely and coordinated manner by the airport, the airline, together with the Specialized Corps for Airport and Civil Aviation Security (Cesac)", the information assured. The threat forced the airport to divert, as a preventive measure, a JetBlue flight to the city of Santiago and another United flight to Punta Cana, the main tourist hub of the Dominican Republic. "All established procedures were followed, and currently the airport is operating with total normality," highlighted Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI XXI. The operating company assured that after it was determined that it was a false threat and there was no risk element for the Copa flight, the alert was lifted. "Passengers are being attended to by the airline, and the event is under investigation by Cesac, who will promptly provide further details," the note concluded. Copa Airlines, in a statement sent to EFE, detailed that its flight CM299 to Panama City had to return to Las Américas International Airport after the Dominican Republic's Air Traffic Control "received a bomb threat call that could pose a threat to the aircraft's security". "Following the required security protocols, as a precaution, the aircraft returned to Santo Domingo, landing safely and passengers were disembarked without incident."
