If you were trying to get through Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) today, January 15, 2026, honestly, it was a mess. Between a bizarre security scare that felt like a movie plot and a winter storm that basically decided to park itself over the Marmara region, travelers have had a rough go of it.
You’ve probably seen the headlines about a bomb threat. It sounds terrifying. But the reality of what happened at Istanbul Airport today is actually much weirder—and a lot more frustrating for the thousands of people stuck in departure lounges.
The "Bomb" That Was Actually a Wi-Fi Hotspot
The biggest story of the day started at Istanbul Airport but ended on a runway in Barcelona. Turkish Airlines Flight TK1853 took off from IST this morning, everything seemingly normal, until it neared Spanish airspace.
Suddenly, the crew realized something was wrong. Not with the engines. Not with the cargo.
A passenger had apparently decided it would be a "funny" idea to set up a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot and name the network something that included a bomb threat. In the high-stakes world of aviation security, that's not a joke. It’s an immediate emergency.
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- The Escort: A French fighter jet was actually scrambled to escort the Airbus A321 once it was cleared into Spanish airspace.
- The Landing: The plane made an emergency landing at Barcelona-El Prat, touching down in a remote, secure area.
- The Result: After a full sweep by the Guardia Civil and sniffer dogs, it was confirmed to be a total hoax. No explosives. Just a very bad decision by one traveler.
Yahya Üstün, a spokesperson for Turkish Airlines, confirmed that the airline is pursuing legal action. Honestly, can you blame them? This single "joke" delayed an entire plane-load of people and cost the airline a fortune in fuel and landing fees.
Why Istanbul Airport is Seeing Massive Delays Today
While the Barcelona incident was the most dramatic, most people at the airport today weren't dealing with fighter jets. They were dealing with the snow.
What happened at Istanbul Airport today in terms of daily operations was a classic battle against Mother Nature. Strong winds and heavy snowfall across Turkey and parts of Central Europe have turned the flight board into a sea of red and yellow.
The Numbers are Bracing:
- Over 270 delays were recorded at Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) alone.
- Istanbul Airport (IST) saw hundreds of schedule shifts as ground crews struggled to keep runways clear of ice.
- Pegasus Airlines and Turkish Airlines have had to cancel dozens of flights across the regional network.
It’s not just Turkey, though. If you’re flying to London Heathrow, Paris, or Moscow from Istanbul, you’re likely sitting on a plane for an extra two hours while they de-ice the wings. Winter storms have hit the entire hub-and-spoke system. When a hub like Istanbul gets hit, the ripples are felt all the way to Lisbon and Almaty.
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Survival Guide for Travelers Currently at IST
If you’re currently stuck at the terminal, you’ve probably noticed the queues at the transfer desks are getting pretty long. Here’s the deal: IST is a massive, high-tech facility, but when 1,400 flights across Europe are delayed, even the world's best lounges get crowded.
First, don't just stand in line. Use the airline’s mobile app. Most people forget that you can usually rebook yourself or claim your meal vouchers digitally without talking to a human.
Second, check your rights. Since Turkish Airlines is the primary carrier, they follow specific passenger rights regulations that are somewhat similar to Europe's SHY-PASSENGER rules. If your delay is over a certain number of hours, they must provide food and communication.
Is it Safe to Fly Through Istanbul Right Now?
Absolutely. The Wi-Fi incident today actually shows how tight security is. The fact that a hotspot name was caught and handled with such extreme caution—including fighter jet escorts—should actually make you feel safer. They don't take "maybe" for an answer when it comes to passenger safety.
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The weather is the bigger hurdle.
Expect the "rolling congestion" to continue through at least January 16. When an airport handles as many passengers as IST does, you can't just "catch up" in an hour. It takes days to clear the backlog of travelers who missed their connections.
Actionable Steps to Take Now:
- Download the 'İGA Istanbul Airport' App: It has real-time tracking that is often faster than the physical boards in the terminal.
- Verify Your Hotspot Settings: Seriously. Today's incident proves that even a joke name on your phone can get you arrested and cause an international incident.
- Check for "Force Majeure": Because the delays are largely weather-related, airlines aren't always required to pay cash compensation, but they still have a "duty of care" to provide hotels if you're stranded overnight.
- Stay in the International Zone: If you don't have a Turkish visa, do not leave the transit area unless an airline representative specifically guides you to a "hotel desk" and handles your temporary entry.
The situation is evolving, but the airport remains open. Just bring a charger and a lot of patience.