Flight to Chicago diverted (landed at Bangor, Maine)

Chicago Tribune ^ | August 25, 2006

[jdm]

BANGOR, Maine -- A trans-Atlantic flight from Manchester, England, en route to Chicago was diverted to the Bangor International Airport on Friday, officials said.

American Airlines Flight 55, a Boeing 763, was diverted for security reasons, said Arlene Murray, New England regional spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration. She declined to elaborate.

Police confirmed that there was an incident at the airport but provided no details. Federal agents were at the airport, as well.

FBI spokeswoman Gail Marcinkiewicz declined to discuss the nature of the problem.

"We're responding to determine the cause of the diversion. It's going to take a number of hours for passengers to be interviewed," Marcinkiewicz said from Boston.

The Bangor airport is a popular place for international flights to touch down early due to mechanical problems, unruly passengers or security threats.

Bangor is the first large U.S. airport for incoming European flights, and it's the last U.S. airport for outgoing flights, providing a safety net for aircraft with uncluttered skies and one of the longest runways on the East Coast.

[Toespi]

There are probably different operational criteria when under the heightened alert orange, thus the response is exaggerated to incidents which would have been disregarded prior to the change.

[pitinkie]

Crap I have to fly tomorrow into Newark..I hate to fly!

[southlake_hoosier]

I hate to fly!

That is becoming the normal. Even this morning on a Chicago radio stations, the DJ's were talking about driving to Detroit because of the time and hassle at the airport.

[STARWISE]

Can you put this in Breaking?

[pitinkie]

I first started to hate it in the mid 80's when Eastern got that big fine for safety concerns...then I started listening to the CVR before crashes and it made it worse!

[jimbo123]

Was the "student" a Norwegian Christian?

[RNO1]

It appears that they found dynamite in someones luggage..I just heard that on Fox..

[fivecatsandadog]

"12 crew members"

Is it just coincidence that one of recently diverted/returned flights also had >>>12<<< suspicious passengers on board?

[Coldwater Creek]

I am terrified of the terrorist. I am more afraid of bad weather on a flight.

[pitinkie]

I am terrified period! I hope the weather is not bad tomorrow for me!

[Coldwater Creek]

I will be thinking about you.

[Global2010]

Probably another Male Organ Pump "bong". (j/k)

[JimSEA]

If I am not mistaken, a student had dynamite in his check luggage on a flight to Newark. The student's flight originated in Argentina but, don't worry because he said he was "involved with mining". I was "involved" with mining for 30 years and we always transported our explosives bu air, in our luggage, along with the dirty underwear. More to come, I am sure. Have a nice flight.

[DollyCali]

get hubby on this AT ONCE!

lol

[pitinkie]

Thanks!!! I will be taking drugs!

[pitinkie]

Really?? thanks for the info...thanks for the flight wishes!

[Fighting Irish]

"In the middle of that four-martini lunch I see?"

...........................................hic!

[Fester Chugabrew]

. . . if they do this often enough . . .

Then maybe we ought to start offering mid flight ejections.