Plane is evacuated after passenger activates emergency slide, shouts 'bomb'... then flees by jumping from wing

  • Volaris Airlines flight from Mexico City to Cancun had boarded passengers
  • Reports say passenger in questioning is ill and suffering from depression 
  • 179 people were evacuated from the plane following the threat yesterday 

By GEORGIA DIEBELIUS FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

A plane was evacuated after a passenger 'activated an emergency slide' before fleeing and shouting that there was a bomb on board.

Passengers had boarded the Volaris flight from Mexico City International Airport to Cancun and it was ready for take off when a man opened the exit and jumped out, a news agency reports.

All 179 passengers were evacuated from the plane, which was fully inspected following the incident yesterday.

A man is pictured jumping from the wing of the aircraft yesterday

A man is pictured jumping from the wing of the aircraft yesterday

Police and ground support personnel gather around the Volaris Airlines aircraft following the suspension of its flight

Police and ground support personnel gather around the Volaris Airlines aircraft following the suspension of its flight

Xinhua News Agency reported that the passenger, who is currently being held for questioning, is ill and suffering from depression.

According to police source and witnesses, the man 'pulled the handle to activate the emergency slide and shouted that there was a bomb on board.'

Authorities were forced to suspend the flight and move the aircraft to a secure area away from the building.

Mexico City's International Airport said in a statement that the search found no explosive device.

According to police source and witnesses, the man 'shouted that there was a bomb on board'

According to police source and witnesses, the man 'shouted that there was a bomb on board'

A spokesman for Volaris said: 'A passenger aboard Flight 714 made a bomb threat.

'The customers and crew are on the ground and are well.'

The incident at the airport follows another reported by MailOnline Travel in November, which saw an airliner's landing gear partially collapse as it landed.

Emergency crews rushed to the runway and surrounded the Magnicharters plane after its left-side wheel strut apparently buckled as it touched down at Mexico City’s international airport.

Airport authorities said some of the 139 passengers were treated for ‘nervous crisis’, but none of them or any of the five crew members were injured.

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