The damage left behind by the Aeroflot bomb scare
By Seychelles Life Correspondent
A tip-off that a bomb was primed to explode onboard an Aeroflot flight from Russia prompted a terror alert at Seychelles International Airport.
The shock news broke after the Seychelles Civil Association Authority and the Russian Embassy in Seychelles received an anonymous warning via email.
Police and emergency agencies were swiftly deployed, and the jet carrying 250 passengers and 19 crew was first searched, then evacuated.
The alarm, on Saturday 25th February, proved false, but the threat had the clear intent of creating panic and fear among both the local community and the tourists.
Consequently, President Wavel Ramkalawan and the Russian Ambassador to Seychelles, Artyom Kozhin, met with the passengers to reassure them that everything was under control.
Today, questions have been asked who could have been responsible for the incident and why – whether it was mischief by a lone wolf or an act of sabotage aimed directly at the tourism industry, which is the pillar of the country's economy?
The incident comes at a sensitive time as tourists have been flocking back to Seychelles after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some observers speculated if it could be connected to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, now that Russian holidaymakers, once top of the list in terms of visitors pre-pandemic, are heading back in large numbers again.
Bomb threats are rare in modern Seychelles. One major incident was in the 1970s when the SPUP was led by Albert René. They were accused of being involved in the bombing of the Reef Hotel at Anse Aux Pins, which was seen as an act of sabotage towards the country's tourism industry.
Commentators say it is hard to know what can be done to prevent this kind of threat to a country which almost entirely depends on tourism to survive.
They warn it needs appropriate action to discourage anyone else from attempting similar threats in the future.
On a positive note, it was heartwarming to see the people of Seychelles come together to condemn such an irresponsible act.
As one Seychellois noted: The country cannot allow anyone to scare away the goose that lays the golden egg on which we rely to feed ourselves and our family.