Details added (first version posted on 11:14)
An EgyptAir plane heading from Egypt's capital Cairo to China's capital Beijing has landed in Uzbekistan due to a bomb threat, Al-Wasat newspaper reported June 8 citing EgyptAir sources.
The plane made an emergency landing after Cairo airport authorities received an anonymous tip about a bomb on board the airliner, according to the newspaper.
Uzbekistan's flag carrier Uzbekistan Airways confirmed that an Egyptian plane had landed in the city of Urgench due to a bomb threat.
"On the morning of June 8, information was received about a possible explosive device on board an А-330-220 airliner belonging to an Egyptian air carrier and heading from Cairo to Beijing," the Uzbek carrier's press service said. "Seventeen crew members and 118 passengers were on board the plane."
The plane made a safe landing in Uzbekistan's Urgench and all passengers and crew were evacuated, according to the press service. The airliner is now located in a safe zone where it is being investigated by experts.
Later, Egyptian aviation sources told Reuters the bomb threat turned out to be a hoax.
"The plane is preparing to resume its journey. It was a hoax, thank God," said one of the sources.