Seattle plane lands after bomb threat

SEATTLE – A man who had missed his flight to Memphis said there was a bomb aboard the plane Wednesday, prompting it to be recalled to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport even though authorities did not believe the threat was legitimate.

“The plane was brought back, erring on the side of caution, after he made that threatening statement,” said Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman Jennifer Peppin.

Police confirmed there was no bomb on board hours later, after bomb-sniffing dogs searched the plane, said airport spokeswoman Terri-Ann Betancourt.

The man was taken to a holding facility at the airport police department’s headquarters after telling a gate agent there was a bomb on Northwest Airlines Flight 980 shortly after the plane left Seattle around 12:33 p.m., Betancourt said.

“After interviewing him, they said they do not believe it was a credible bomb threat,” Betancourt said, adding “it was clear he wanted the plane to come back.”

The man, who was traveling with a group, was never on the plane. He initially said he had no luggage on the aircraft, then later told authorities he had checked luggage under someone else’s name, Betancourt said.

The plane, an Airbus A320 with 142 passengers and 5 crew members on board, returned to the airport around 1:15 or 1:20 p.m., Betancourt said.

Passengers remained on the plane for more than an hour while police tried to determine how extensive a security sweep was needed. Around 3 p.m., passengers were taken off the plane and all luggage was removed so bomb-sniffing dogs could search for any traces of explosives, Betancourt said.

About an hour later, Betancourt said, police confirmed there was no bomb on board after the dogs had checked all the bags and the aircraft.

Passengers were given the option of rebooking if they did not feel comfortable getting back on the plane, said Northwest spokesman Roman Blahoski. The plane finally departed for Memphis – for the second time – at 5:14 p.m., Blahoski said.

Betancourt noted it’s a federal offense to make a threat against a commercial aircraft but said she could not immediately release any information about the man being questioned.