‘Bomb’ that causes Florida-bound flight to divert turns out to be adult diaper

Flight bound for Florida diverted after an adult diaper was mistaken for a bomb.

 

A Copa Airlines flight bound for Tampa, Florida, was diverted after a diaper on board was mistaken for a bomb, Panama’s national police said on Friday.

 

Flight CM393 departed Panama City on Friday at 9:44 a.m. and turned back when cabin crew were alerted to the suspected explosive in one of the plane toilets.

 

Upon returning to Tocumen International Airport, all 144 passengers on board were removed from the plane to allow an anti-explosives team to search the aircraft.

 

Passengers were made to wait in an isolated part of the tarmac during the search, which took place around 11am local time.

 

After searching the Boeing 737-800, the specialist team identified that the item was not a bomb but in fact an adult diaper, according to airport security head, José Castro.

 

“We had it on a secure runway where police special explosives canine units and special forces examined the object, and found it to be an adult diaper, ruling out any risk,” he said.

 

After identifying the object, officials allowed passengers to reboard and the flight departed around 3pm. The flight arrived in Tampa five hours later than anticipated.

 

Officials were unable to identify which passenger the diaper belonged to.