Posted on 10/29/2014 12:40:13 PM PDT by knak
CHARLOTTE, N.C. —
Channel 9 learned a plane that sparked a security scare at the airport last week was escorted by two fighter jets.
But many questions remain about what caused a security scare Friday on a Charlotte-bound U.S. Airways flight.
When U.S. Airways Flight 744 from Dallas landed in Charlotte Friday, the FBI kept passengers on the plane while agents questioned the crew and nine passengers.
One passenger, Eric Pillmore, said a police officer told him a threatening note had been found on the plane.
Meanwhile, some travelers said they deserve to know more about what that note said.
Pillmore said U.S. Airways Flight 744 from Dallas was about one hour into the flight when the captain made an announcement.
“He said 'We have a small situation, everyone needs to take their seats, put their seat belts on',” Pillmore said.
When the plane landed, Pillmore said Charlotte-Mecklenburg police, FBI agents and customs officials took the flight crew then nine passengers off the plane.
The captain then spoke again.
“At that point, he said this is a very serious situation,” Pillmore said.
Pillmore said a police officer later told him they found a note on the plane.
Eyewitness News anchor Scott Wickersham has been pressing government officials for more information. The FBI will only say it responded to a security concern out of caution.
Channel 9 contacted the airline, airport, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security. None would comment on the incident.
In situations like this, the FAA can enact the Domestic Events Network -- a nationwide communication system to alert local authorities to air-related emergencies.
But the FAA won't say if it was used in this incident.
Some fliers say they deserve to know more about the incident.
“I would like to know what’s going on,” Shawn Jamison said. “Keeping it away from everybody, that’s not right. We have the right to know.”
Others understand the need for secrecy.
“The more information you give away, the smarter potential terrorists can come,” Trisha Stouffer said.
Pillmore just wants to know if he'll have to go through something like this again.
“I’m just worried. Is this going become a way of life?” Pillmore asked.
In similar situations, fighter jets have been scrambled to escort planes.
this kind of thing usually gets posted in breaking news and now they get overlooked. lol
You mean, it's not?
Nine passengers?
This day and time flights are usually full. Why 9? Were they members of the militant Amish wing of the NRA?
More from same source. I guess it happened Friday.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. —
There was a security scare aboard a U.S. Airways plane Friday at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
“There were people crying,” passenger Megan Wiora said. “There were people praying.”
Wiora called the situation on Flight 744 scary. Chopper 9 Skyzoom was in the air after the flight from Dallas landed and an Eyewitness News crew could see emergency vehicles on the tarmac.
“There were at least six fire trucks,” Wiora said.
Passengers told Eyewitness News they were alerted mid-flight that there was a security concern, but they weren’t given any information about what the concern was.
“The pilot came on and said there was a security situation,” Tom Hansbury said.
They were told to stay seated and not use electronics.
“Once we landed we weren’t allowed to use anything on our phones and people were obviously interviewed,” Wiora said.
Passengers said some passengers were interviewed by FBI agents and escorted off the plane.
“The FBI took over, was in charge,” Hansbury said.
Eyewitness News reached out to the FBI and asked what prompted the security concern. The FBI Charlotte Division sent this response:
“The FBI Charlotte Division and multiple other law enforcement agencies responded to a security concern onboard a U.S. Airways flight from Dallas-Fort Worth to the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Out of an abundance of caution security protocols were implemented and are being followed at this time which includes interviewing passengers. Additional information will be released when appropriate.”
Even a small turboprop would make a pretty fair missle.
I’m going to make a guess here: someone purposefully left a message on a jet plane (probably a cleaning crew member left it between flights - I’ve been told many are Muslim men) so observers could note how authorities dealt with the situation. Looking for weakness in the response; the better to take advantage in future terrorist attacks.
Or some idiotic idea of a joke.
You can also bet your bottom dollar that if a plane is hijacked and a threat is verified (another 9/11 attempt), those jets will take the commercial airliner down, one way or the other.
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