Urumqi-bound plane diverted after bomb threat

The sources previously told Xinhua the plane was hijacked. The Urumqi airport has received an order from the aviation authorities to deny the plane's landing in the city. Armed police and emergency vehicles, however, have rushed to the Urumqi Diwopu International Airport for emergency response.

The China-bound Afghan plane with Kam Airlines later landed on the airport of Kandahar city in southern Afghanistan Sunday night, said an official in Kabul International Airport.

The official who was reluctant to disclose his name said the plane scheduled from Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan, to Urumqi has already landed on Kandahar airport.

The airport official said the plane made the unexpected landing due to some "mechanical problem".

Meantime, president of Kam Airlines, Zamarai Kamgar, told Xinhua that it is the first flight day for Kam from Kabul to Urumqi and the plane was refused by Kyrgyzstan to pass its territory.

The Boeing-767 plane was carrying more than 200 passengers, including five Chinese, Kazinform cites China Daily. See www.chinadaily.com.cn for full version.