Source tells CBS4: One Dead in MIA Plane Shooting
Dec 7, 2005 3:13 pm US/EasternMIAMI (CBS4 News) An American Airlines plane bound from Medellin, Colombia to Orlando with a stopover in Miami has been rocked by gunfire, apparently when two federal air marshals aboard the flight opened fire on someone a 'high ranking official with the joint terrorism task force' claims was someone they considered a threat to the aircraft.
The Department of Homeland Security, responsible for safety aboard US Aircraft, says the shooting took place when air marshals aboard the flight spotted someone they thought was ‘walking aggressively’. When agents attempted to stop the passenger as he exited the aircraft, they say the passenger reached into a bag, causing the officers to open fire.
Homeland Security Department spokesman Brian Doyle says, as first reported by CBS4's Jennifer Santiago, that a passenger had indicated there was a bomb in a carry-on bag, after the plane had parked at the gate. The passenger was confronted by air marshals but ran off the plane. Doyle says a team of air marshals gave chase and ordered the passenger to get on the ground. The passenger complied, but then was shot while apparently reaching into a bag.
The flight was AA flight 924, a Boeing 757 bound from Medillin, Colombia. It was at gate D-42 when the shots were reported. The airport's Concourse D has reopened, but passengers who were on board the plane during the shooting are being held for questioning. That appears to be standard procedure after an incident of this type.
CBS4 Investigative Reporter Mike Kirsch says a source close to the investigation says he has been told one person on the aircraft is dead. This has not yet been officially confirmed.
A source tells CBS4's Jennifer Santiago reports a source tells her that this incident was not terrorism related, that a passenger aboard the plane announced that he had a bomb. Brian Andrews reports his sources say the incident happened very close to the front door of the Boeing 757, and got into a confrontation with two air marshals traveling aboard the plane. Shots were fired over concern for the safety aboard the plane, Brian's sources say.
In an events such as this, air marshals consider everyone on board the plane a suspect, a precaution because they don't know for sure how many people are involved.
There has been no indication yet when the passengers aboard the flight will be allowed to continue their trip to Orlando. Other planes are being allowed to land and take off at the airport, which had been closed briefly while the incident unfolded.