Phone Threat Grounds NYC-Bound Flight In SF

American Airlines Flight 24 from San Francisco International Airport headed to JFK Airport was grounded due to a bomb threat: "The airport police 'received a threatening phone call' just before the flight was about to takeoff." Fox News says, "A TSA official told Fox News that the phone threat was regarding a hijacking. The TSA said passengers were being taken off the plane on at least five buses to be interviewed and re-screened. American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith said the threat was phoned into local police. He said there were no hostages, but the TSA has moved the plane to a remote tarmac."

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By Jen Chung in News on August 19, 2010 5:11 PM

Comments [rss]

bashmentgirl

I would lock this person up with the passengers of the grounded flight for about twenty minutes.

exnyer

Plenty of loons on the west coast......Federal Offense..why take the chance??

jpeditor

Must be Amish.

/sarcasm off.

Cranky Old Man

It's just another reminder to the American people that the moment you walk through the glass doors of an airline terminal, is the moment that all of your civil rights and freedoms are suspended. And then you become the property of the government and the airline the moment you walk through that airplane door. They can yank you right off of that flight and take you into custody for any reason they want. And if you do something wrong during the flight, it's 100 percent guaranteed that you will be arrested upon landing. They divert and emergency land airplanes because some fool lights up a cigarette in the bathroom. 20 years ago, people could light up right in their seats. They gave out metal knives, spoons and forks during mealtimes.

silver

1. find some flight number leaving soon online at big airport

2. goto nearest payphone

3. check for cameras

4. dial 911 (no quarters needed)

5. say bomb on flight number from step 1

6. ????

7. PROFIT!!!

I'm surprised this isn't done 10 times a day by bored teens like the fire alarm was pulled in my high school (the fire alarm rang more times a day than the bell).

juliec

"Threat" or a "tip" is what I'd like to know. Also, I was wondering about the couple (man, woman) who were treated separately from everyone else on the flight. I'm excited to see how this unravels and am (surprise!) cautiosly happy with our defense agency right now.

Clarice City

"Fox news says..."

Well, if Fox says it...*rolls eyes*

l3iodeez

I'd be willing to bet this was a jilted ex or someone else getting revenge on one of the passengers who no doubt spent hours sitting on the plane and in the airport.