Teenager causes flight delays and restrictions at Almaty airport

Tengrinews.kz – A teenager’s inappropriate joke at Almaty Airport led to flight delays and temporary flight restrictions, according to the press service of the Almaty City Counterterrorism Operations Headquarters (ACOH).

"An incident occurred at Almaty International Airport: one of the teenagers jokingly claimed that his friend had an explosive device in his backpack. As a result, a protocol was activated to inspect the aircraft and all passengers, which caused a flight delay and temporary flight restrictions," the headquarters reported.

According to the ACOH, such statements — even made as a joke — are treated as potential security threats and trigger appropriate checks. In some cases, individuals may be held accountable in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

"We urge citizens to act responsibly and refrain from using language or expressions related to threats, weapons, explosive devices, and other potentially dangerous topics in security areas and on board aircraft. Such 'jokes' are inappropriate and can lead to serious legal consequences," the statement warned.