Bomb threat forces Northwest flight to return to Sea-Tac
Jul 25, 2007, 3:29 pm
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Bomb threat forces Northwest flight to return to Sea-Tac
Bomb threat forces Northwest flight to return to Sea-Tac
By KOMO Staff & News Services
SEATAC, Wash. -- A Northwest Airlines flight returned to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Wednesday after a man said there was a bomb on the plane, though investigators do not believe the threat was credible.
Airport spokeswoman Terri Anne Betancourt said a passenger who had cleared a security checkpoint told an employee at the gate that a bomb was on Northwest Airlines flight 980.
Betancourt said the man was ticketed to be on the flight but did not check any luggage and was never on the plane, which left Seattle about 12:30 p.m. She said the man's motive was unclear, but "it was clear he wanted the plane to come back."
The Airbus A320 was scheduled to fly to Memphis but returned to Sea-Tac just after 1 p.m. where it taxied to the west side of the airport and was met by police and fire department personnel. The 142 passengers remained onboard.
Police were interviewing the pilots, trying to determine how extensive a security sweep they needed to make before allowing the plane to fly to Memphis.
The man who made the threat was arrested. "After interviewing him, they said they do not believe it was a credible bomb threat," Betancourt said.
By KOMO Staff & News Services
SEATAC, Wash. -- A Northwest Airlines flight returned to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Wednesday after a man said there was a bomb on the plane, though investigators do not believe the threat was credible.
Airport spokeswoman Terri Anne Betancourt said a passenger who had cleared a security checkpoint told an employee at the gate that a bomb was on Northwest Airlines flight 980.
Betancourt said the man was ticketed to be on the flight but did not check any luggage and was never on the plane, which left Seattle about 12:30 p.m. She said the man's motive was unclear, but "it was clear he wanted the plane to come back."
The Airbus A320 was scheduled to fly to Memphis but returned to Sea-Tac just after 1 p.m. where it taxied to the west side of the airport and was met by police and fire department personnel. The 142 passengers remained onboard.
Police were interviewing the pilots, trying to determine how extensive a security sweep they needed to make before allowing the plane to fly to Memphis.
The man who made the threat was arrested. "After interviewing him, they said they do not believe it was a credible bomb threat," Betancourt said.
Jul 25, 2007, 3:49 pm
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Jul 25, 2007, 4:10 pm
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Farce, thy name is TSA.
Jul 25, 2007, 4:16 pm
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Police were interviewing the pilots, trying to determine how extensive a security sweep they needed to make before allowing the plane to fly to Memphis.
Pilot Mike: Nahhh, just do every other row and skip the cargo hold, I'm hungry! Besides, only our ground crew can load stuff down there and they didn't report anything so we must be clean.
Jul 25, 2007, 4:17 pm
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Jul 25, 2007, 6:01 pm
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yes it is not the tsa's call but instead of 140 or so people flying around with an alleged bomb on board, you have them safely on the ground but still inside the plane. it's simple, securely off load the pax and take them to a remote (and secure location). no bags no nothing but wallets with i/d's and let the bomb squad folks do their thing.
wheel the stairs to the plane
a bus (with leos on board) is waiting at the bottom of the stairs with its door open (and more busses are lined up behind it)
pax descend the stairs (leos at the top and the bottom of the stairs) and directly board the bus
full bus moves on to remote and secure location
next bus moves into postion
repeat as needed until all are offloaded (including crew)
simple and makes sense.
wheel the stairs to the plane
a bus (with leos on board) is waiting at the bottom of the stairs with its door open (and more busses are lined up behind it)
pax descend the stairs (leos at the top and the bottom of the stairs) and directly board the bus
full bus moves on to remote and secure location
next bus moves into postion
repeat as needed until all are offloaded (including crew)
simple and makes sense.
Jul 25, 2007, 6:34 pm
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TSA dumps terminals and stuff over bomb threats or something "sneaking" by and has to rescreen everyone.
You honestly think TSA wasn't involved in this? After all, if they were so sure of their screening, nothing would have gotten on the plane, right? Of course, maybe uninspected cargo.
And I'm sure TSA would have rescreened everyone on the plane too.
Direct call to keep them on board? Don't know. However, I wouldn't be surprised if TSA didn't want them "tainting" the "sterile" area, thus requiring them to remain on board.
You honestly think TSA wasn't involved in this? After all, if they were so sure of their screening, nothing would have gotten on the plane, right? Of course, maybe uninspected cargo.
And I'm sure TSA would have rescreened everyone on the plane too.
Direct call to keep them on board? Don't know. However, I wouldn't be surprised if TSA didn't want them "tainting" the "sterile" area, thus requiring them to remain on board.
Jul 25, 2007, 10:44 pm
#12
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TSA dumps terminals and stuff over bomb threats or something "sneaking" by and has to rescreen everyone.
You honestly think TSA wasn't involved in this? After all, if they were so sure of their screening, nothing would have gotten on the plane, right? Of course, maybe uninspected cargo.
And I'm sure TSA would have rescreened everyone on the plane too.
Direct call to keep them on board? Don't know. However, I wouldn't be surprised if TSA didn't want them "tainting" the "sterile" area, thus requiring them to remain on board.
You honestly think TSA wasn't involved in this? After all, if they were so sure of their screening, nothing would have gotten on the plane, right? Of course, maybe uninspected cargo.
And I'm sure TSA would have rescreened everyone on the plane too.
Direct call to keep them on board? Don't know. However, I wouldn't be surprised if TSA didn't want them "tainting" the "sterile" area, thus requiring them to remain on board.
TSA has no input in this. Local LEOS and Fire/Rescue and maybe the FAA and FBI made that call. It's on the tarmac for Christ's sake.
Jul 25, 2007, 10:45 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,704
yes it is not the tsa's call but instead of 140 or so people flying around with an alleged bomb on board, you have them safely on the ground but still inside the plane. it's simple, securely off load the pax and take them to a remote (and secure location). no bags no nothing but wallets with i/d's and let the bomb squad folks do their thing.
wheel the stairs to the plane
a bus (with leos on board) is waiting at the bottom of the stairs with its door open (and more busses are lined up behind it)
pax descend the stairs (leos at the top and the bottom of the stairs) and directly board the bus
full bus moves on to remote and secure location
next bus moves into postion
repeat as needed until all are offloaded (including crew)
simple and makes sense.
wheel the stairs to the plane
a bus (with leos on board) is waiting at the bottom of the stairs with its door open (and more busses are lined up behind it)
pax descend the stairs (leos at the top and the bottom of the stairs) and directly board the bus
full bus moves on to remote and secure location
next bus moves into postion
repeat as needed until all are offloaded (including crew)
simple and makes sense.
Jul 25, 2007, 10:55 pm
#14
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TSA has no input in this. Local LEOS and Fire/Rescue and maybe the FAA and FBI made that call. It's on the tarmac for Christ's sake.
TSA tells people D Y W T F T ... why can't it with planes if it thinks there's a reason?
Super
Jul 25, 2007, 11:01 pm
#15
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Posts: 4,704
So what does being on the tarmac have anything to do with anything? It's a plane, and it's securing our national airspace. It's TSA's. Or so you've said in the past. National Security 101.
TSA tells people D Y W T F T ... why can't it with planes if it thinks there's a reason?
Super
TSA tells people D Y W T F T ... why can't it with planes if it thinks there's a reason?
Super