Bomb squads sweep Atlanta airport, fighter jets scrambled after threats on Twitter
NORAD fighter jets reportedly escorted two flights to the ground after authorities received separate “credible” bomb threats via Twitter. Bomb squads are sweeping the planes, which landed safely in Atlanta, and passengers are being evacuated.
Hartsfield Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, was partly shut down Saturday after Delta flight 1156 and Southwest flight 2492 landed there safely, and bomb squads with canine units were sent to search the planes for explosives.
#US planes bomb threats: Passengers left aircrafts safely, cabins being searched http://t.co/GJYlKM67Pq pic.twitter.com/utgl9CuQMG
— RT America (@RT_America) January 24, 2015
NORAD Media Relations Specialist, Preston Schlachter, confirmed to local NBC-affiliated channel WXIA-TV that two F-16 jets had been launched from the McIntire Air Force Base in South Carolina as a “precautionary measure” and escorted the planes.
An airport spokesman was quoted as saying “we believe the threats to be credible.” It was later revealed that the threats in question were made via Twitter.
Southwest Airlines released a statement saying: “Due a security situation, the aircraft operating Flight 2492 was taken to a remote area of the airport where Customers and the aircraft are being rescreened. Our number one priority is the Safety of our Customers and People. We cannot comment on the nature of the security situation.”
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