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http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/international/5608518/Loo-lock-up-sparks-airline-security-scare
Loo lock-up sparks airline security scare
Last updated 12:57 12/09/2011
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Two fighter jets were scrambled to escort a US flight after passengers locked themselves in a toilet.
The two F-16 jets shadowed American Airlines Flight 34 from Los Angeles to New York until it landed safely at John F Kennedy Airport on Sunday, the US Transportation Security Administration said in a statement.
The incident, which occurred amid heightened security on the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, was not thought to be terrorism-related. But officials later said the ''suspicious behaviour'' was two people "making out", US television network ABC News reported.
An Australian politician on board said nothing seemed amiss until he saw police lights on the runway after the plane landed.
"To be honest none of us suspected anything," he said, adding that he got up at one point for the toilet and noticed a long line but didn't think twice and sat back down.
When the plane landed, he said, the airline workers told them to remain seated and that the authorities would meet the plane. Everyone was quiet as air marshals got on board and headed for the back of the plane.
The fighter jets intercepted the flight about 160 kilometres west of New York and shadowed it until it landed, said John Cornelio, spokesman for the North American Aerospace Defence Command.
He described the measure as precautionary.
A "security concern" was brought to the airline's attention but the plane's captain never declared any sort of security threat and never requested law enforcement help, American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith said.
He said the crew used "normal procedures" to assess the circumstances and the plane landed as planned.
New York has been in a heightened state of security after federal officials received a credible but uncorroborated tip of a car bomb plot on the anniversary in either New York or Washington.
Law enforcement officials met the flight and would interview passengers, the TSA statement said.
- AP
Loo lock-up sparks airline security scare
Last updated 12:57 12/09/2011
Share
Text Size
International
Finding the poetry of old Ireland Man versus mild Burning Man's growing pains Cheers to the new tequila Iwi the Kiwi to head home after maiden flight High spirits in Geneva Backpacker returns, with cash Surfing in Iceland Dutch mull artificial mountain plan Is East Timor the new Bali?
Two fighter jets were scrambled to escort a US flight after passengers locked themselves in a toilet.
The two F-16 jets shadowed American Airlines Flight 34 from Los Angeles to New York until it landed safely at John F Kennedy Airport on Sunday, the US Transportation Security Administration said in a statement.
The incident, which occurred amid heightened security on the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, was not thought to be terrorism-related. But officials later said the ''suspicious behaviour'' was two people "making out", US television network ABC News reported.
An Australian politician on board said nothing seemed amiss until he saw police lights on the runway after the plane landed.
"To be honest none of us suspected anything," he said, adding that he got up at one point for the toilet and noticed a long line but didn't think twice and sat back down.
When the plane landed, he said, the airline workers told them to remain seated and that the authorities would meet the plane. Everyone was quiet as air marshals got on board and headed for the back of the plane.
The fighter jets intercepted the flight about 160 kilometres west of New York and shadowed it until it landed, said John Cornelio, spokesman for the North American Aerospace Defence Command.
He described the measure as precautionary.
A "security concern" was brought to the airline's attention but the plane's captain never declared any sort of security threat and never requested law enforcement help, American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith said.
He said the crew used "normal procedures" to assess the circumstances and the plane landed as planned.
New York has been in a heightened state of security after federal officials received a credible but uncorroborated tip of a car bomb plot on the anniversary in either New York or Washington.
Law enforcement officials met the flight and would interview passengers, the TSA statement said.
- AP
