New York - Two Air France flights headed for Paris have been diverted to other American airports because of security threats, according to CNN News.
New York – Two Air France flights headed for Paris have been diverted to other American airports because of security threats, according to CNN News.
FAA officials have confirmed that a bomb threat was called in from the ground causing Air France flight 65 from Los Angeles to Paris to be diverted to Salt Lake City, Utah where it was ordered to land.
The second aircraft, Air France flight 55, which had departed from Washington’s Dulles International Airport to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport was also diverted in midair due to a bomb threat called in from the ground, government officials said.
AF flight 55 was sent to an airport in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Airport officials told CNN that at 9:15 Eastern Time the flight landed safely with 298 crew and passengers on board who were immediately transported to the terminal.
“Several law enforcement agencies are working to determine the nature of the threats which caused the aircraft to divert,” FBI Special Agent Todd Palmer of the Salt Lake City division said.
No information on the source of the bomb threats or if they are related has been revealed yet.
According to NORAD spokesperson Preston Schlachter, there was no need for U.S. military intervention in the aircrafts’ emergency operations.
“Diversion of flights are the most draconian response to a bomb threat,” CNN national security analyst Juliette Kayyem said.
“I think right now we take this seriously until we hear some explanation to the validity of the bomb threat, she sadded.
Passengers onboard Flight 65 said the captain told them they had to make an emergency landing. Flight attendants removed all food trays and said they had to land due to “unsafe flying conditions”, passenger Keith Rosso told CNN
“There were huge buses when we landed that they loaded us all on,” passenger Trevor Moran said according to CNN.
“Everyone on the flight is waiting in this lobby. Nobody knows what’s going on,” he added.
FBI officials have started an investigation and interview process, according to the same source.
