The pilot of the British Airways flight at the centre of a bomb threat on Sunday evening issued a mayday call and said he would have to order an emergency evacuation of passengers after waiting 40 minutes for disembarkation apparatus to arrive.

The Royal Gazette heard two exchanges recorded between air traffic control at LF Wade International Airport and the pilot of BA flight 158 through the online aviation audio platform LiveATC.net

LiveATC.net provides live and recorded air traffic control radio data for almost all airports globally.

Bomb threats have targeted other Overseas Territories in the past few days including the British Virgin Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Cayman and Anguilla, according to regional media.

Skyport, which manages LF Wade International Airport, said: "We are aware that this threat is part of a wider effort targeted at multiple airports and we are working closely with international aviation security authorities accordingly."

At about 9pm on Sunday, the airport received a bomb threat via e-mail threatening the BA flight to London Heathrow.

The threat prompted an evacuation of the terminal, with the plane sent to a remote site for safety.

Skyport told The Royal Gazette that the flight had already left the gate and was taxiing for departure when the threat came in.

On the recording, the pilot stated that 40 minutes had elapsed “since you give us a bomb threat”, adding: “You really should have fire engines surrounding the aircraft.”

The mayday call is reserved for the most severe emergencies.

The pilot said if he had to wait much longer, he would have to employ a “rapid exit” of passengers.

Bermuda ACT responded that the fire department’s protocol was to “stay as far away from the aircraft as possible until it is cleared by the police bomb crew”.

The pilot was told that if he ordered a rapid exit, the fire department would be on standby to escort passengers away.

The pilot advised ATC that he would deploy the slides to evacuate passengers for assembly under the wing of a nearby aircraft. He also requested ambulances.

Bermuda ATC then advised that the steps were now approaching via a taxiway, and the pilot gave instructions on where to position them.

There were 197 people on board, according to the recording, as well as 50 tonnes of aviation fuel.

Skyport said it took time for groundstaff to bring two sets of stairs across the airfield to the aircraft’s remote parking location.

Steps were sent from the north side of the airfield.

“Once clearance was given, the two sets of stairs were positioned, and the deplanement process, which lasted approximately ten minutes, commenced.”

A spokeswoman said protocols were followed in getting passengers off and at least 150 meters from the aircraft.

She said the decision on where to send passengers evacuated in an emergency came from the pilot in command and the head of emergency services.

“Those in command would weigh several factors when making that final determination.”

She said the Bermuda Police Service conducted a sweep of the vacated aircraft — and that the island had been prepared.

“International airports like LF Wade are mandated to conduct exercises covering multiple different scenarios annually which are designed to assess overall preparedness and to continuously identify areas for improvement.”

Skyport would give “whatever assistance is required” for a police investigation, she added.

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force said in a press release yesterday that it was collaborating with Bermuda, and Turks & Caicos, to identify the offenders behind the threats.

Georgina Vestbirk, a passenger on board the flight, said she heard that the airline had initiated the mayday because passengers were not being evacuated quickly enough.

The former Bermuda resident was returning to London after visiting friends.

Ms Vestbirk said: “We were taxied down the runway and we sat there for a while. At about 9.30pm, the pilot said we have a problem, we are going to try to fix it.

“We sat there for another 20 minutes and then suddenly the pilot came on. He was speaking in a very different voice saying, ‘This is an important message; you need to leave the plane now, you can’t take any possessions’. He was speaking in a very authoritative voice.”

She said there was “not a panic”, but uncertainty. “We got off the plane maybe faster than normal and we were herded across the runway.”

She said it was just after 10pm once they were off, with about 20 emergency vehicles gathered and police cars nearby. Passengers waited about ten minutes.

“The pilot came on a tannoy and said there has been a credible bomb threat to the airport and the plane. He was speaking from one of the emergency vehicles.

“I didn’t see it, but someone said someone had a panic attack and had to be attended to. Generally, everyone was more bemused.

“There were lots of the SailGP people on the fight. Sir Russell Coutts [a world champion New Zealand yachtsman] was on the flight and the British and Australian skippers, and lots of crew.

“About 30 minutes later the head of the cabin crew came on the tannoy and said ‘We are bringing some buses to get you to the terminal’. First the terminal had to be checked and the buses so there was more standing around after that.”

Ms Vestbirk said she arrived at the terminal at about 12.15am.

After 1am, passengers were told the flight would be delayed 24 hours.

“There was a big groan from everyone,” Ms Vestbirk recalled.

They were told they could leave if they wished, but that hand luggage would take two hours to retrieve.

When Ms Vestbirk returned after sunrise for her luggage, having stayed at a friend’s house, fellow passengers said that others were at the airport until 4am and then taken to The Reefs Resort & Club in Southampton.

BA e-mailed passengers to tell them they were entitled to claim reasonable costs, adding: “Out of an abundance of caution following a security alert, we followed our standard procedures to disembark the aircraft.”

Lester Nelson, the chief executive at the Bermuda Airport Authority, said: “Currently the BAA is not involved in any police investigation into the airport security incident on May 5 involving BA.

“Whilst the BAA provides air traffic control services at the LF Wade International Airport, it is the aerodrome operator, Bermuda Skyport Corporation Limited, who coordinates the emergency response to any airport incidents.”

Ms Vestbirk said she had been talking with some of SailGP’s tech team and heard there were some sailors trying to reach regattas and sailing events.

SailGP spokeswoman said: “While it was an alarming situation, SailGP was grateful for the professional way it was handled by the airport and plane staff.

“The main thing is that all passengers were safe and our teams will be able to depart the island today after a fantastic Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix this weekend.”

Sunday’s cancelled flight was rescheduled to leave last night.

The Gazette approached the Ministry of National Security for comment, but did not receive a response by press time.