Guyana-bound Flight Makes Emergency Landing in New York After Passenger Calls Attendant, Claims to Have Bomb
An American Airlines flight bound for Georgetown, Guyana, was forced to make an emergency landing in New York City on Wednesday after a passenger called a flight attendant and said they had a bomb.
The flight, which was carrying 143 passengers and 6 crew members, was about two hours into its journey when the passenger made the announcement. The flight attendant immediately alerted the pilot, who diverted the plane to JFK International Airport.
The plane landed safely at JFK, and the passenger was taken into custody by law enforcement officials. The bomb threat was later determined to be a hoax.
The passenger, who has not been identified, is facing charges of making a false bomb threat.
The incident has raised concerns about security on flights. American Airlines said in a statement that it is “taking this matter very seriously” and that it is “working with law enforcement to investigate.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is also investigating the incident.
This is the latest in a series of bomb threats on flights in recent months. In February, a Delta Air Lines flight was diverted to Atlanta after a passenger made a bomb threat. And in January, a United Airlines flight was diverted to Chicago after a passenger said they had a bomb.
These incidents have led to increased security measures at airports. In March, the FAA issued a security directive requiring airlines to screen passengers for potential bomb threats.
The directive also requires airlines to have a plan in place to respond to bomb threats.
The FAA said that the directive is “designed to enhance security and protect the traveling public.”
The incident on Wednesday is a reminder of the importance of security on flights. Passengers should be aware of the signs of a potential bomb threat and report any suspicious activity to a flight attendant.