Plane returns after 'bomb threat'

CatoCooper13

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18:57 AEST Tue Jul 27 2004

A bomb threat in a note found on board a United Airlines flight forced the plane to return to Sydney International Airport, a federal government spokesman said.

United Airlines flight 840 left Sydney bound for Los Angeles at about 3pm (AEST) with 246 passengers and crew on board.

But about 90 minutes later, the aircraft's pilot aborted the flight and decided to return to Sydney.

The Boeing 747 landed safely at about 5.45pm (AEST) and remained on the tarmac with all passengers aboard.

A spokesman for Transport Minister John Anderson said the note indicated a bomb was on board and prompted the pilot to abort the flight.

"The pilot made the decision to return to Sydney (after the note was found)," he said.

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"(These things are treated) very seriously and the pilot obviously felt he needed to return to Sydney."

It is understood the note was found in the plane's toilet.

The usual security precautions and processes were implemented immediately and investigations would continue, he said.

A United Airlines spokesman said an object found on board "raised some security suspicions", prompting the captain to return to Sydney immediately.

Passengers were expected to resume their travel at 11.30am (AEST) Wednesday and were expected to enter the arrivals hall shortly.



©AAP 2004

It's good to see that the security bar is in place and taking things seriously when international security is breached and threatened.
 
**update** :madfawk: @ whoever planted the note.

Threat on UA flight a hoax, police
22:29 AEST Tue Jul 27 2004

A hoax threat written on the back of a sick bag forced a United Airlines flight to return to Sydney, sparking a major security alert at Australia's busiest airport.

UA Flight 840, with 246 passengers and 18 crew on board, had left Sydney for Los Angeles at 3pm (AEST) on Tuesday and was 90 minutes into the journey when the pilot decided to abort the flight "when an object which raised some security suspicions was found on board", the company said.

"As a precaution, the captain immediately returned to Sydney landing without incident at 5.50pm (AEST). Further investigations will be carried out," United Airlines said in a statement.

After a thorough search of the Boeing 747, NSW Police declared the threat a hoax.

"We have been carrying out our investigations since the plane landed and I'm quite satisfied that it is a hoax," Botany local area command Superintendent Peter O'Brien told reporters.

Supt O'Brien said the note was found by a crew member and that the plane's pilot had followed the correct procedure in aborting the flight.

He said the police had no idea who had written the note but logic would indicate it was written by someone onboard.

"We've got no idea about any of those details (who wrote the note), there is 246 people on board and as I said inquiries are continuing," he said.

He said investigations were continuing to find who wrote the note, but all passengers and crew on board the plane had been cleared since it returned to Sydney.

"Every crew member and every passenger had to undergo our specific screening process, and all those persons have been processed without incident," Supt O'Brien said.

State and federal agencies including the Australian Federal Police, NSW Police and Australian Customs were involved in the investigation, he said.

None of the passengers knew of the bomb threat until they phoned relatives from mobile phones once they were safely inside the terminal.

Sydneysider Jeff Nelson told reporters passengers were told little about the unfolding drama.

"The plane actually turned around and then we were told that there was an unconfirmed threat," Mr Nelson said.

"We were given very little information overall, everyone was pretty calm. I guess they didn't give us any information (in order) to keep us calm."

Earlier, Federal Transport Minister John Anderson said the note "implied that there might be a bomb onboard".

Mr Anderson said the pilot had acted "entirely responsibly" in deciding to turn back to Sydney after the note was found.

"The pilot in command ... took what he believed to be the right course of action and we entirely respect that," he said.

Mr Anderson said the incident had caused "great inconvenience" to not only those aboard the flight but travellers all around Australia as many flights had been delayed.

"It is my hope that it is a hoax but we don't run those risks. Safety comes first. It does say something though about the sick minds that we occasionally have to deal with," he said.

"Thank God everyone is safe both in the air and on the ground."

As the pilot decided to return to Sydney and declared an emergency to authorities, federal security arrangements were immediately activated.

Police closed the airport's surrounding area to traffic, causing widespread chaos, while fire brigades and ambulance personnel lined the tarmac.

Airports along the eastern seaboard were also alerted in accordance with established emergency management plans.

Supt O'Brien said despite authorities being on a higher terrorism alert, normal procedure was followed.

"The circumstances surrounding this incident is what the response would be regardless of the heightened situation that we are under at the moment," he said.

"At the end of the day it was the captain's decision to continue flying to the US or to return to Australia. His decision, and his decision only, was to return, and he's the pilot in total control of that plane and NSW and Commonwealth authorities respect his professionalism in making that decision."

Passengers later told waiting reporters they were looking forward to continuing their travels.

All were being taken to a nearby hotel for the night.

©AAP 2004
 
Geez, I dislike whoever enjoy'n being Hoax the bomb in airport.. Pretty scary for everyones turns into panic and worriesome. Reason why Everyones were scarred 'bout WTC affect it coming from "Airport Terminal wherebouts". As long and to making sure everyones are safe and enivorment living. No Threats on wherebouts the cities or town.
I like to see everyones feel safe and ongoing peace.
 
Bullym0m said:
Geez, I dislike whoever enjoy'n being Hoax the bomb in airport.. Pretty scary for everyones turns into panic and worriesome. Reason why Everyones were scarred 'bout WTC affect it coming from "Airport Terminal wherebouts". As long and to making sure everyones are safe and enivorment living. No Threats on wherebouts the cities or town.
I like to see everyones feel safe and ongoing peace.
Click to expand...

Yeah -- everyone's paranoid these days. I don't blame them for reacting the way they did. They were doing all what they could to protect the innocent passengers on the plane. Bomb or no bomb...they still turned the plane around to ensure safety.
 
PurpleRose71 said:
Yeah -- everyone's paranoid these days. I don't blame them for reacting the way they did. They were doing all what they could to protect the innocent passengers on the plane. Bomb or no bomb...they still turned the plane around to ensure safety.
Click to expand...

Another update --

Airplane bomb hoax response praised
11:42 AEST Wed Jul 28 2004

Measures were taken to protect VIPs, including a US diplomat, on board a plane forced back to Sydney following a hoax bomb threat, the airport's chief said.

United Airlines flight 840, with 264 passengers and crew on board, left Sydney for Los Angeles at 3pm (AEST) on Tuesday and was 90 minutes into the journey when the pilot turned back.

A sick bag with the letters "B O B" written on it was found in one of the aircraft toilets, which a flight attendant interpreted as meaning "bomb on board".

Police on Tuesday night declared the threat a hoax.

Sydney Airport Corporation chief executive Max Moore-Wilton praised the actions of airline and airport staff, as well as NSW and federal police.

"I was very pleased at the way in which the whole situation was handled by our operations staff and by the NSW police, and by the airline," Mr Moore-Wilton told ABC radio.

"I am very grateful for the technical excellence which all of the people involved showed last night."

He confirmed a senior American diplomat was on board the plane and that special measures were taken to protect the individual.

The diplomat was not US ambassador to Australia Tom Schieffer, Mr Moore-Wilton said, but he would not identify the person.

"Appropriate measures were taken to protect any VIPs that were on the aircraft that might need special protection," he said.

Mr Moore-Wilton said responses to the security scare showed Australia was well prepared for any real threats.

"I am very confidant in the light of last night's experience that the procedures that the government - both NSW and the commonwealth - and the airport have put in place are very robust and sensible," he said.



©AAP 2004

Hmm..protect only the VIPs were their only thoughts?! :confused: They should have said VIP and other passengers as well! :roll:
 
*Sumth'n fishy* Nicely more suspecting..

*mumbling*
What up to ????? Yeah PurpleRose71
 
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