FAA: L.A.-bound flight that left Newark was diverted due to ‘security issue’
Passengers say that there was a bomb threat made against the plane.
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A United Airlines flight that departed Newark Liberty International Airport Wednesday morning was diverted and landed at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago due to a 'security issue,' according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
United Flight 1533 was headed to Los Angeles but landed in Chicago around 7:40 a.m. local time. Passengers say there was a possible bomb threat made against the flight.
One of those passengers, Rashad Robinson, took to Twitter to describe the incident
Robinson wrote, “Someone allegedly made a bomb threat in the plane’s bathroom,” and stated that they were “forced to leave all belongings on the plane.”
More than 200 passengers were required to deplane and were taken by bus to a secure area.
The FAA did confirm that the Boeing 787 landed due to a security issue - but did not provide many other details.
Chicago police say a bomb-sniffing K-9 officer uncovered a suspicious bag during their search and that the dog was able to connect a scent from the bathroom note to the bag. The passenger with the seemingly suspicious bag is currently being questioned, according to authorities.
The FBI says there’s no ongoing threat to the public at this time.
Passengers on the flight were eventually boarded on another plane headed to Los Angeles. It landed in California a little after 8 p.m. EST.
