Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - Etihad EY231 AUH-ISB diverted after bomb threat

As reported by agencies. Google News link (http://news.google.com.au/news?hl=en&ned=au&q=etihad+bomb).
This might be ueful to BA people travelling on EY as a result of BA's cancellation of flights to Islamabad.

Bomb threat sees Etihad make diversion (http://www.etravelblackboard.com/showarticle.asp?id=83448&nav=130) [eTravelBlackboard]
A bomb threat note left in the toilets saw an Etihad flight bound for Islamabad forced to make a diversion to Karachi Airport yesterday.

Flight EY231, flown in an Airbus A330-200 was en-route from Abu-Dhabi, when a passenger on board discovered a note in a toilet which claimed there was a bomb on the aircraft.

AFP reports a Pakistan civil aviation spokesperson saying, “According to the information we have received, a passenger went into the toilet and found a note and started shouting that there was a bomb on board.”

The flight carried 193 passengers and 14 crew on board when it was diverted to Karachi. It landed safely at 14:13 local time.

Passengers were searched coming off the plane, and the plane itself was thoroughly checked by authorities.

“The safety of our customers is of paramount importance and the pilot’s thorough training led to his correct decision to divert the aircraft to Karachi and thankfully, the note was found to be a hoax after the authorities searched the plane thoroughly,” said Iain Burns, an Etihad spokesman.

“We apologise to our customers for the inconvenience caused and we thank them for their patience, calmness and understanding.”

After no explosives were found, the plane and its passengers continued on its journey for Islamabad.

Interesting followup in The National:
Anger on Etihad flight during bomb scare (http://www.thenational.ae/article/20081016/NATIONAL/814364689/-1/rss) [The National]
...the Airbus A330 left Abu Dhabi just before 10am on Wednesday with 197 passengers, most of them expatriate workers from the GCC, US and Europe taking advantage of off-season travel bargains.

...No one read anything into the captain’s warning to keep seat belts on. “We expect light turbulence over Pakistan,” he said.

..90 minutes into the flight that passengers first suspected that all might not be right.

An announcement, made only in English, said the flight would land in Karachi because of a “technical fault”. Since many passengers could not understand the language, confusion ensued, a passenger said.
As the plane neared Karachi, many agitated passengers switched on their mobile phones, eager to tell relatives, gathered at Islamabad’s Benazir Bhutto International Airport, of the delay.

“You either switch off that phone or I will confiscate it,” they were told by cabin crew. As the plane taxied to a halt at the western end of the runway, about 500 metres from the terminal, many passengers expressed anger towards the airline.
“We are paying customers and have rights you can’t deny us,” said Zulfiqar Kiyani, 42, a heavy-machinery operator who works in Riyadh.

By that time, window-seat passengers were watching the Airport Security Force personnel outside the aircraft.

Finally, passengers were asked to leave the plane. With no buses in sight, they stood waiting on a patch of mud next to the plane, sweltering in the midafternoon sun.
After another half-hour, the passengers were surrounded by security personnel and not allowed to move.

Asked whether a security situation had arisen, the senior security official on the scene replied: “Thank God you have all made it here alive. We received a telephonic bomb threat.”

As the word spread, some passengers reacted with scepticism. “I don’t believe that,” said Mohammed Sarmad, 27, who drives a taxi in Dublin. “They are trying to cover up the airline’s shortcomings.”
It emerged later that a threatening note had been found in the jetliner’s lavatory.

I don't know if this is much use to anyone but it's slightly more info than the earlier news.