Afghan plane to Urumqi lands in Kandahar city_English

Armored vehicles withdraw from the Urumqi airport, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, early August 10, 2009, after the airport was restored to order. An Afghanistan plane scheduled from Kabul to China's Urumqi was reportedly bomb threatened Sunday, triggering an emergency response at the airport. The plane finally landed on the airport of Kandahar city in southern Afghanistan after China's aviation department denied its landing in Urumqi. (Xinhua Photo)
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KABUL, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- A China-bound Afghan plane with Kam Airlines landed on the airport of Kandahar city in southern Afghanistan Sunday night, said sources of Kabul International Airport.

An official in Kabul International Airport who was reluctant to disclose his name said the plane scheduled from Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan, to Urumqi of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has already landed on Kandahar airport.

"The plane would return to Kabul after two hours," he added.

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.

"The plane chose to land in Kandahar city at first step because weather condition in Kabul was not suitable at that time," Kamgar added.

Passengers walk in the Urumqi airport, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, early August 10, 2009, after the airport was restored to order. An Afghanistan plane scheduled from Kabul to China's Urumqi was reportedly bomb threatened Sunday, triggering an emergency response at the airport. The plane finally landed on the airport of Kandahar city in southern Afghanistan after China's aviation department denied its landing in Urumqi.(Xinhua Photo)
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"The plane has made landing efforts in Kabul airport, but failed. Maybe it is because of strong wind," a Chinese passenger named Pan Dongjie told Xinhua from Kandahar.

Earlier, armed police sources in Xinjiang said the Afghan plane scheduled to Urumqi was bomb threatened.

"Now all the passengers are asked to stay on board," Pan said. "I have known about the bomb threat. I want to leave the plane as soon as possible."

Afghanistan plane scheduled to Urumqi bomb threatened

URUMQI, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- An Afghanistan plane scheduled to Urumqi of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was bomb threatened Sunday, according to armed police sources in Xinjiang.

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 airport for emergency response.