PHILADELPHIA —
A US Airways flight headed for Dallas was diverted back to Philadelphia Thursday because of a false threat that identified a particular passenger as carrying explosives.
“All indications are this was a hoax and a pretty nasty prank was played on a passenger,” said Chief Inspector Joe Sullivan, commander of the Philadelphia Police Department’s antiterrorism unit.
A search of the man identified in the threat telephoned to police and of the airplane turned up nothing “dangerous, hazardous or illegal,” Sullivan said.
The drama started to unfold around 7:30 a.m. EDT when a caller to the Philadelphia Police unit at the airport named a particular individual and said he was attempting to smuggle an explosive on a flight to Texas, Sullivan said.
Officials immediately searched flight manifests and found the man was on US Airways Flight 1267, which left Philadelphia for Dallas about 7:40 a.m.
They then decided to bring the flight with 75 passengers and crew back to Philadelphia, where it landed about 8:50 a.m.
After the Airbus A-319 was parked in a remote area at Philadelphia International Airport, police took a man in shorts off the plane in handcuffs and made him kneel on the tarmac while a law enforcement dog sniffed around him before he was put in a patrol car.
That man was “very alarmed” when law enforcement officers approached him on the plane and led him away, said Sullivan said. He was released after questioning.
Passengers, who Sullivan said were “very understanding” but also “quite shook up” by what was happening, also were taken off the plane and escorted to a waiting bus. The flight to Dallas took off for a second time at 11:14 a.m.
Sullivan declined to provide additional details about the phone call, including where it originated or whether the caller was male or female, saying the investigation was still in its “infancy.”
The caller will face serious federal charges related to interfering with civil aviation, said Richard Quinn, assistant special agent in charge for national security at the FBI’s Philadelphia officer.
“It’s just an incredibly foolish and irresponsible thing to do,” Sullivan said, citing the wasted time, money and effort of the airline, its passengers and law enforcement officials. “The bottom line is it’s criminal.”
Sullivan declined to comment on reports that the episode might have been related to a post on Facebook by the detained passenger.
Investigators were aware of a morning posting on Facebook that reads, “I feel Blessed on of my new neighbors works Security at PHL airport, walked me right in str8 though security with a breeze,” according to a law enforcement source.
Sullivan said officials would examine social media as part of the investigation, which is headed by the FBI. He would not discuss a possible motive for the false threat.
National News
False threat diverts flight back to Philadelphia
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