Fighter Jets Scramble Following at Least 6 Reports of Threats to Passenger Planes. Are We safe Flying?

2015-05-25T23:09:10-04:00

At least six flights were impacted by threats at airports in New York, New Jersey and Boston today, according to airlines and law enforcement.

JFK Airport:

An Air France plane was escorted to JFK Airport in New York City this morning after an anonymous threat was made against the flight, law enforcement officials told ABC News. The FBI said the plane has since been checked and cleared with "no incidents or hazards reported on board the flight by either the passengers or its crew."

Authorities said that the decision to have the plane escorted by two fighter jets was done "out of an abundance of caution" after the Maryland State Police McHenry Barrack, in Garrett County, received an anonymous call of a “chemical weapons threat” aboard Air France Flight 22, which was en route from Paris to the New York City airport.

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The tip was called in at 6:45 a.m. on an untraceable line and the caller did not identify himself, a senior federal official told ABC News. Two F-15 planes were scrambled and followed the plane into U.S. airspace, but they flew in a way so that the passengers and crew would not be able to see the military planes, sources said.

The Airbus A-330 has since landed and was taken between two runways and locked down while the threat is investigated. A police dispatch that was sent out after the jets were scrambled noted that the area where the plane was taken is generally known as the "hijack site" because it is the area used in such scenarios. During an initial investigation, nothing dangerous has been found on board, the federal official told ABC News.

A Saudi Airlines flight from Saudi Arabia was also escorted to a remote area at JFK. It was cleared and passengers were brought back to the terminal, officials said.

For an American Airlines flight from Birmingham, England, to JFK, the pilot was initially instructed to taxi to a remote area, but the threat was determined not credible and the plane was cleared to go to the terminal.

Newark Airport:

Two flights to Newark, New Jersey, were also affected -- a Delta Air Lines flight from London and a United Airlines flight from Madrid, authorities said.

Logan Airport:
A threat also turned up negative for a Delta flight from Paris to Logan Airport in Boston, authorities said.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made May 25 at 2015 11:13 PM

2015-05-25T23:13:30-04:00

I think that is going to be a big question on people's minds in the coming days!

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made May 26 at 2015 7:19 AM

2015-05-26T07:19:12-04:00

I managed the switchboard operators (in a government building) back in the day of common bomb threats. We got a couple almost every day.

I am not sure what someone gets out of phony bomb threats, but, apparently it is a common disease.

Is it safe to fly? It is safer than many of the other things we do daily with no concern.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made May 26 at 2015 9:05 AM

2015-05-26T09:05:23-04:00

Scary, I'm glad nothing happened and everyone is safe.