Anonymous Threats Against Airliners Prompt Plane Searches At JFK, Newark Airports

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Authorities say anonymous telephone threats made against at least 10 flights among various commercial airliners Monday were not found to be credible.

The threats prompted searches of at least two planes at John F. Kennedy Airport and nearly interrupted a third flight from England.

In one instance, U.S. military jets escorted an Air France flight into JFK after someone claimed a chemical weapon was aboard the aircraft.

Maryland State Police said they received an anonymous call regarding the threat around 6:30 a.m. State police then notified the FBI.

Port Authority police and Emergency Service units quickly staged for an emergency landing, CBS2's Hazel Sanchez reported. The FBI said no hazards were found on board and the plane was cleared.

"We launched the two F-15 aircraft as a precautionary measure. It turned out to be a non-event and Air France landed safely at JFK," Lt. Commander Richlyn Ivey with the U.S. Northern Command told WCBS 880. "The fighters that were launched we turned back to home station."

For passengers on board the Air France flight, it was a normal landing. Many said they only found out about the threat after seeing emergency vehicles surrounding the plane.

"They didn't announce anything," one passenger told WCBS 880's Jim Smith. "Jumped on my phone, jumped on Twitter. Saw it before they even announced anything."

A Saudi Arabian Airlines flight was also checked out because of another threat.

A third threat was made against an American Airlines jet flying from Birmingham, England to JFK while it was still in the air.

An airline spokesman said authorities initially told the pilot to land and taxi to a remote area away from the terminal but later radioed that the threat was not credible and cleared the plane to go to the terminal.

Travelers arriving at JFK Monday told 1010 WINS' Gary Baumgarten were both concerned about safety as well as being able to get to where they need to go on time.

"You should never give up on caution, I mean. But I think you're gonna have to be very careful how you deal with these things and not lock down the airport when some nutcase calls in," said one air traveler.

Authorities also searched three flights at Newark Liberty International Airport in connection with the threats.

United Airlines spokeswoman Mary Clark said passengers at Newark were removed from a flight after it arrived from Madrid. The plane was being inspected at a spot away from the terminal.

Travelers arriving at the airport saw several emergency crews surround the plane on the runway, CBS2's Jessica Schneider reported.

"There were like 15 police cars and firemen car with the lights blinking and I told my husband 'watch, watch, watch we have to fly home today,'" said Katrien Vervloet.

The FBI in Newark said two other planes also were searched. One was a United flight from Edinburgh, Scotland, and the other was a Delta flight from London.

Law enforcement sources tell CBS2's Schneider all the threats were made by one person, but so far no arrests have been made.

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