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Sources: Bomb Scare Forced Plane To Evacuate At Newark

NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A flight leaving Newark Liberty International Airport was delayed Saturday morning for additional security screenings.

It happened after a bomb scare forced the evacuation of their plane.

jetblue-flight-delayed
A JetBlue flight out of Newark Liberty International Airport was delayed on July 13, 2019, for additional security screenings. (Credit: Nikki Morris)

The JetBlue flight was stopped just before takeoff.

Sources tell CBS2 that two flight attendants alerted pilots after a picture of a man in a suicide vest showed up on their phones through iPhone airdrop.

The airline released the following statement in response to the incident:

"JetBlue flight 573 scheduled to depart this morning from Newark to Tampa has been delayed for additional security screenings out of an abundance of caution. Local law enforcement is on site and we are working to get customers on their way to Tampa as soon as possible."

The plane taxied to a remote area, where all 150 passengers were deplaned and bussed back to the terminal.

All bags on the plane were removed and searched.

Passengers were re-screened, and the plane took off around noon.

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