Scene at Delta flight with security threat at Denver International Airport. Photo courtesy: Jon Lamp

Scene at Delta flight with security threat at Denver International Airport. Photo courtesy: Tone Sevy

Delta jet at remote part of DIA. Photo: Daryl Orr

DENVER — A security threat on board a Delta Airlines flight forced authorities to send the plane to a remote area at Denver International Airport after it landed Friday.

Flight 1500 from Detroit to Denver was met by police and fire crews after it taxied to a remote location at the airport at about 4:40 p.m.

Airport spokeswoman Julie Smith acknowledged the flight had a potential security threat while in-flight, but did not specify the type of threat.

Delta Flt.1500 landed safely in Denver, is in remote location of airfield due to potential security threat, passengers off plane in safe loc—
Denver Int’l Airport (@DENAirport) April 18, 2014

Reports Friday night indicated a flight attendant found a hand-written note with reference to a “bomb” on it.

Delta Airlines says there were 151 passengers and six crew members on the Boeing 737.

The airline says passengers were taken off the plane and put on buses. They were transported to another location at the airport to be interviewed by Denver FBI agents Friday evening.

Four hours after the plane landed, the FBI says it had released most of the passengers and allowed them to claim their belongings and continue with their travels.

Earlier, passengers like Jon Lamp indicated it was a strange scene with all the passengers standing and waiting on the tarmac. He did say people were calm. He also indicated there were officers with K9 on the scene.

Some passengers said they were not allowed to take any bags with them from the overhead bins, and they saw crews removing luggage from the cargo area of the plane.

K9 on plane, buses, checking us personal bags. Sprayed with water before we deplaned. @Delta And TSA on it. Crazy situation—
Tone Sevy (@ToneSevy) April 18, 2014

Passsenger Tone Sevy says that almost two hours after landing, authorities cleared the plane and allowed passengers to get their belongings.

Getting personal stuff off plane almost 2 hours later. Happy we are all safe thanks @delta #USA #AFT #TSA http://t.co/dfm2stXzpP—
Tone Sevy (@ToneSevy) April 19, 2014

Then, a few minutes later, passenger Aaron Baratz sent the following Tweet:

The process of us being let go has been halted until the FBI arrives.—
Aaron Baratz (@ABGstatusXLV) April 19, 2014

Delta Airlines Inc. (DAL) is slated to report its first-quarter 2014 results on Apr 23, before the market opens. In the last quarter, the company delivered a +3.17% earnings surprise. Let’s see how things are shaping up prior to this announcement.

Earnings Whispers

Our proven model does not conclusively show that Delta Airlines is likely to beat earnings because does not have the right combination of two key ingredients of a positive surprise prediction and Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold).

Zacks ESP: Earnings ESP which represents the difference between the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate, stands at 0.00% for Delta.

Zacks Rank: Delta currently has a Zacks Rank #2. However, the combination of Delta’s Zacks Rank #2 and +0.00% ESP makes surprise prediction difficult.

Factors Influencing Results This Quarter

We remain encouraged by Delta’s commitment to improve operational performance, enhance customer experience and increase shareholder returns through balanced capital investments. Strong domestic market, capacity discipline, cost control measures and customer-focused initiatives are expected to boost the company’s topline.

Further, the acquisition of Virgin Atlantic will strengthen Delta’s trans-Atlantic operations. However, rise in wages and salaries of contract workers are expected to increase the non-fuel expenses of the company, thus affecting its bottom line. Further, the formation of American Airlines Group and winning of airport slots by Southwest Airlines will heighten competition for Delta.  

Other Stocks to Consider

Here are some other companies to consider as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter:

Alaska Air Group Inc. (ALK) with earnings ESP of +7.14% and Zacks Rank #1.

Allegiant Travel Group Inc. (ALGT) with earnings ESP of +3.53% and Zacks Rank #2.

Copa Holdings SA (CPA) with earnings ESP of 0.32% and Zacks Rank #3.

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All passengers aboard a Delta Airlines plane have been screened by the FBI and allowed to continue on their way after a more than four-hour delay.

Delta Flight 1500, with 151 passengers, was forced to land in a remote corner of Denver International Airport at about 4:40 p.m. because of a threatening note.

DIA announced on Twitter at 9 p.m. that all the passengers had been released to pick up their luggage.

Aaron Baratz, a passenger, told The Denver Post via Twitter that the passengers were taken from the plane by bus. They were not allowed to open overhead compartments and retrieve any bags.

Authorities, including K-9 units, searched and secured the plane.

Other flights are being delayed because of the incident, passengers were reporting over social media.

DIA officials said they were not aware of any delays and said they had been in contact with the airline.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Ryan Parker: 303-954-2409, rparker@denverpost.com or twitter.com/ryanparkerdp

DENVER, April 19 (UPI) — FBI officials questioned passengers on board Delta Flight 1500 and searched the Boeing 737 after a note with a bomb threat was discovered on the plane. No bomb was found.

The pilot of the plane notified air traffic control of the threat, which was found on a note in the rear galley of the plane by a flight attendant.

“Flight 1500 now declaring an emergency at this time. We have a written threat aboard the aircraft,” the pilot said. “Our flight attendant found a note indicating there was a bomb onboard towards the rear of the aircraft.”

The plane, which was en route to Denver from Detroit, arrived safely at Denver International Airport and was taken to a remote location at the airport for screening.

“The FBI came on board the plane and asked, of course, did anybody leave the note. They said there was a piece of paper in the back with the word bomb written on it,” said passenger Joe Vance.

One passenger, Tone Sevy tweeted information about the search and photos as he awaited heading back to the terminal.

K9 on plane, buses, checking us personal bags. Sprayed with water before we deplaned. @Delta And TSA on it. Crazy situation

— Tone Sevy (@ToneSevy) April 18, 2014

Getting personal stuff off plane almost 2 hours later. Happy we are all safe thanks @delta #USA #AFT #TSA pic.twitter.com/dfm2stXzpP

— Tone Sevy (@ToneSevy) April 19, 2014

Not going anywhere soon, Allegedly person wrote threat and now everyone is Held by FBI, outside on buses. @Delta #Delta1500 @ThePowerPen

— Tone Sevy (@ToneSevy) April 19, 2014

[CNN]
[News7 Denver]

“Why did it take so long? What was the real holdup here? What were they really looking for?” asked Jace Booher, according to CNN affiliate KDVR.

A law enforcement official told CNN that a bomb threat found written on a note prompted the security screening after the plane landed at Denver International Airport.

The 737 aircraft, which was carrying 151 passengers and six crew members, landed safely at 4:40 p.m. MT as scheduled, said Russell Cason, a spokesman for Delta.

The plane was taken to a remote location at the airport for the screening.

CNN’s Pamela Brown and Matthew Stucker contributed to this report.

Security threat reported on Detroit-Denver Delta flight

April 19, 2014

A Delta Airlines flight that landed at a Denver airport was directed to a remote taxiway after an unspecified “potential security threat” onboard and passengers were ushered off the plane, interviewed and the scene secured, officials said.

Flight 1500, a Boeing 737 with 151 passengers and six crew, landed roughly on time at Denver International Airport from Detroit Metropolitan Airport at about 4.40pm Mountain Time (2240 GMT), airline spokesman Russell Cason said.

The passengers were quickly sent off the plane without their luggage and taken by bus to a separate part of the airport where they were being interviewed by FBI officials. There were no reports of injury.

Flight 1500 had a “potential security threat onboard the aircraft,” Denver airport spokeswoman Julie Smith said, adding that all other airport operations were normal.

A local ABC News affiliate reported that a flight attendant found a note with a bomb threat. An FBI spokesman in Denver, Dave Joly, said he could not confirm that report, and said that authorities were investigating the “security concern” by screening passengers, luggage, and the plane.

“The majority of the Delta Flight 1500 passengers have been allowed to claim their luggage and continue with their travel plans,” Joly said late yesterday.

Joly would not give details of any detentions or arrests, threat credibility, or say if a bomb had been located. Smith, with Denver airport, said late yesterday the “event” had been “secured.”

Passenger Aaron Baratz told the Denver Post he and others were not allowed to open overhead luggage compartments to retrieve bags.

Tone Sevy, another passenger, posted a photograph on Twitter showing more than a dozen passengers returning to the idled jet on an empty stretch of runway to gather belongings. He said police with a dog were checking travellers, the buses, and the plane.

“Getting personal stuff off plane almost 2 hours later,” Sevy tweeted. “Happy we are all safe.” – Reuters, April 19, 2014

April 18 (Reuters) – A Delta Airlines flight that landed at a Denver airport was directed to a remote airfield location after an unspecified “potential Security threat” and passengers were ushered off the plane and were being interviewed by authorities, officials said.

Delta Airlines flight 1500, a Boeing 737 with 151 passengers and six crew members on board, landed roughly on time at Denver International Airport from Detroit Metropolitan Airport at about 4:40 p.m. Mountain Time, airline spokesman Russell Cason said.

The passengers were quickly sent off the plane without their luggage and were bused to a separate part of the airport where they were being interviewed by FBI officials.

The airport said on its Twitter feed that the precautions were taken “due to potential security threat.” (Reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle; Editing by Eric Walsh)

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Economy class passengers bound for the US, Canada and Mexico can now check in two pieces of baggage for free on Air France-KLM and Delta Airlines.

The maximum permissible weight per baggage has been set at 23 kg, as per a press statement. Earlier, the free allowance for economy class passengers was capped at 23 kg for one piece of baggage.

“We are constantly looking at ways to fulfil the needs of our customers and provide the best possible service to them. Revising our baggage allowance to North America is one such step in that direction,” said Yeshwant Pawar, General Manager, Air France-KLM.

Frequent passengers of Air France-KLM and Delta can carry an additional check-in bag above their permissible baggage allowance limit.

There is no change to the per-person baggage allowance for passengers flying in the Premium Economy and Business Class, the company said.

Analysts said that the intense competition from full services West Asian carriers, Emirates, Qatar, Etihad and others, has prompted Western airlines to raise baggage allowance, a stark departure from the decade long strategy of compelling passengers to travel light or pay steep fees. Most of the West Asian carriers allow passengers from India to carry two pieces of check-in baggage.

Economy class passengers bound for US, Canada and Mexico can now check in two pieces of baggage for free on Air France-KLM and Delta Airlines.

According to a press release, the maximum permissible weight per baggage has been set at 23 kg. Earlier, the free allowance for economy class passengers was capped at 23 kg for one piece of baggage.

“We are constantly looking at ways to fulfil the needs of our customers and provide the best possible service to them. Revising our baggage allowance to North America is one such step in that direction,” said Yeshwant Pawar, General Manager, Air France-KLM.

Members of the frequent flyer programmes of Air France-KLM and Delta Airlines can carry an additional check-in bag above their permissible baggage allowance limit.

There is no change to the per person baggage allowance for passengers flying in premium economy and business class, the company said.