Security threat reported on Detroit-Denver Delta flight
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