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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: Two planes evacuated at SeaTac airport

From Wire Reports

SEATAC, Wash. — Two planes were evacuated upon arrival at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Sunday due to what a spokesman called a “security concern.”

Airport spokesman Perry Cooper said a JetBlue flight from Long Beach, California, and a regional SkyWest jet from Phoenix were the planes involved. The flights arrived late Sunday afternoon.

Cooper said that as a precaution, passengers were bused to their gates from the airport’s third runway. He said the matter was under investigation and that he did not have further details.

Additionally, a Delta Air Lines spokesman said a flight from Los Angeles to Orlando was diverted to Dallas Sunday afternoon due to “a security concern.”

Spokesman Morgan Durrant said passengers on Flight 1061 got off the Boeing 737-900 so authorities can search the aircraft. The airline continued the flight Sunday evening.

Laura Eimiller, a spokeswoman for the FBI in Los Angeles, said online threats targeted the JetBlue and Delta flights. She said there was no actual threat to the aircraft despite the threatening statements, and that as part of the investigation agents will determine whether the threats were related.

The flight disruptions come a day after bomb threats targeted two jets bound for Atlanta, prompting F-16 fighter jets to escort the planes. The threats posted on Twitter targeted Southwest Airlines Flight 2492, which arrived at Atlanta from Milwaukee; and Delta Air Lines Flight 1156, which arrived from Portland.

It was unclear if any of the threats the were connected.

Judge stays ruling on Alabama gay marriage for two weeks

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – A federal judge late Sunday put a two-week hold on her decision that overturned Alabama’s gay marriage ban, but said same-sex couples should not be kept in a lengthy state of legal limbo

U.S. District Judge Callie V. S. Granade refused the Alabama attorney general’s request to put her ruling on indefinite hold until the U.S. Supreme Court takes up the decision of gay marriage later this year. However, Granade did issue a 14-day stay to give the state time to appeal her decision to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Granade said it was inappropriate, in her view, to put the decision on permanent hold.

The latest decision was a disappointment to couples who had hoped to get married in the wake of the ruling.

Tori Sisson and Shante Wolfe had camped outside the Montgomery courthouse on Sunday night.

“It’s aggravating. The judge ruled and everybody got so excited and now, this,” Sisson said.

The stay will expire Feb. 9 unless the court extends it.