3 more planes evacuated in Seattle and Dallas after bomb threats
There seems to be no stopping of fake bomb threats directed at US airlines: two passenger jets landing in Seattle, Washington were evacuated and searched for explosives, while another flight was diverted to Dallas, Texas for similar safety procedures.
A JetBlue flight from Long Beach, California, and a regional SkyWest jet from Phoenix were both isolated and searched for explosives by security teams with dogs at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Sunday. Passengers of JetBlue flight 1006 reportedly had to exit the plane, which had been sent to a far end of the airfield, using portable stairs, while their luggage was examined by detection dogs. The evacuation lasted for about 45 minutes.
NWCN Executive Producer Jenna Luthman off-plane at @SeaTacAirport. Bomb-sniffing dog on scene pic.twitter.com/vam7HdVbbA
— NorthWest Cable News (@NWCN) January 26, 2015
Meanwhile, Delta/SkyWest flight 4741 from Phoenix was also
detained at the same airport. The pilot said that three bomb
threats were received, according to local media. Jenna Luthman,
an executive producer at Northwest Cable News described the
threats as “low credibility,” adding that it was unusual to get
three of them at once.
Following the search, both planes were “cleared of security
concerns” and the people were eventually taken to the
terminal by bus.
#DogsWithJobs “@KING5Seattle: Bomb-sniffing dogs at work at @SeaTacAirport, via @TiffLitzpic.twitter.com/kdKPOJ2qwi”
— Tiffany Litz (@TiffLitz) January 26, 2015
The person sending the threats has been known to do it in the past.. All this according to flight attendant @KING5Seattle
— Tiffany Litz (@TiffLitz) January 26, 2015
The third plane, Delta Air Lines flight 1061, flying from Los
Angeles to Orlando, did not reach its destination and had to be
diverted to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport after
multiple passengers reported a bomb threat made in connection
with the flight.
The people were similarly evacuated and questioned and the plane
inspected. It was eventually also given the all-clear by the
authorities.
UPDATE: Passengers tweet Delta Flight 1061 out of LAX was grounded after bomb threat http://t.co/3Kt8DdRLvEpic.twitter.com/0tfg8m7t5y
— NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) January 26, 2015
The threats come just a day after two flights were escorted by
fighter jets and then evacuated and searched for explosives in an
Atlanta airport due to bomb threats on Twitter which authorities
had deemed “credible”.
While the connection was not officially acknowledged by
officials, threats to both Delta and Southwest Airlines were
apparently made via Twitter by user @kingZortic, who then bragged
on his page that he was “untouchable” by the police even
posting an address at which he claimed he could be found.
READ MORE: Bomb squads sweep Atlanta airport, fighter jets scrambled after threats on Twitter
At least one of the Sunday threats could also be connected to a post on Twitter, which claimed that there was a bomb on JetBlue flight 1006 “set to detonate in 25 minutes.” Two fighter jets were also reportedly scrambled to escort the plane due to “security concerns.”
UPDATE: Two fighter jets escorted JetBlue flight 1006 to Seattle airport, due to bomb threat made on Twitter. pic.twitter.com/Cr98ixVJ58
— Breaking News (@NewsOnTheMin) January 26, 2015
how would you feel if you had an F16 fighter jet escorting your plane? http://t.co/DlOW6VTGab
— Luis 2Live (@Luis2Live) January 26, 2015