Bomb Hoax Diverts US Airways Flight

A bomb hoax aboard a US Airways flight caused a brief panic this morning in Philadelphia.

According to Reuters, flight 1267 took off from the Philadelphia International Airport early this morning. The plan was bound for Dallas but was quickly turned around after police received a call about a passenger aboard the plane with explosives.

The plan returned to the Philadelphia airport where officials evacuated the flight and searched the plane. One man was also taken into custody for questioning.

Philadelphia Police Inspector Joe Sullivan said that no explosives were found on the plane. Sullivan also said that the man taken in for questioning had not been arrested for any wrongdoing.

Sullivan said:

“There was no emergency. There was a threat, but that threat was unfounded… That flight was never in any danger. And I just want to stress right now that the male that was briefly taken in for investigation has committed no crime… This is an ongoing investigation, but at this time all indications are that this was a hoax.”

Sullivan said that one of the man’s friends, or enemies, had played a nasty trick on him.

Sullivan said:

“He was obviously very alarmed, as I would be if heavily armed police officers entered a plane to take me off… And he was certainly stunned. And that’s why this is no joke, this is no laughing matter.”

The man who was taken off the flight was not arrested but Sullivan said that police will try to file criminal charges against the person who called in the hoax.

Sullivan said:

“It’s just an incredibly foolish and irresponsible thing to do and, bottom line, it’s criminal.”