• Two bomb threats in a week divert flights of Haj pilgrims in Indonesia.
• Saudi Airlines flight SV5688 was rerouted due to an anonymous threat.
• None of the 376 passengers or crew were harmed during the incidents.

Saudi Airlines flight SV5688, carrying 376 Haj pilgrims from Jeddah, was diverted to Kualanamu International Airport in Medan on Saturday following a bomb threat communicated to air traffic controllers in Jakarta. This incident marks the second bomb threat in a week towards flights operating in Indonesia, as reported by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. All passengers and crew members landed safely, and a bomb squad was dispatched to inspect the aircraft for any potential threats, according to Channel News Asia and Dawn.

Emergency protocols were enacted after an unidentified caller claimed the plane would explode while it was flying over Aceh province. During the emergency landing, no suspicious objects were discovered onboard, and the plane was deemed secure by police and military officials. The passengers were later flown to Juanda International Airport in Surabaya on Sunday, as stated by North Sumatra Police chief Insp. Gen. Whisnu Hermawan Februanto, according to The Jakarta Post.

The investigation into the bomb threat is ongoing, with authorities working to trace the call made via a virtual private network (VPN). This technological barrier has posed additional challenges to law enforcement agencies trying to identify the perpetrator, according to Indonesian National Police representatives. Furthermore, the bomb threat follows a similar incident just days before, when a plane carrying 442 Haj pilgrims was also diverted due to an email threat, highlighting significant security concerns in the region, as noted by Channel News Asia, Dawn, and The Jakarta Post.