[HAL9000]

Northwest Airlines Plane Diverted To Fort Smith

No Injuries Reported

POSTED: 10:56 a.m. CDT September 11, 2002
UPDATED: 11:09 a.m. CDT September 11, 2002

FORT SMITH, Ark. -- A Northwest Airlines jetliner was diverted to Fort Smith's airport this morning after a report of suspicious activity aboard.

9-11 FS Airport Breaking News

The Associated Press reported that three suspicious passengers were among the 94 people on the plane, which took off from Memphis, Tenn.

Northwest spokeswoman Mary Beth Schubert said Flight 979, an Airbus A-320 bound from Memphis to Las Vegas, departed at 8:45 a.m.

Police and firefighters surrounded the aircraft once on the tarmac at Fort Smith.

No one was injured.

40/29 reported that several streets around the airport were closed.

Information was not immediately available on what action was taken regarding the three questionable passengers.

Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Ft. Smith (AP) - Officials says all passengers are now off a Northwest Airlines jetliner that was diverted to Fort Smith.

State emergency management spokeswoman Jennifer Gordon says three people acted suspiciously during the flight, and they locked themselves in a bathroom on the aircraft. Officials negotiated with the three, and Gordon now says the three, along with passengers and crew from the plane, are now all off the aircraft.

Northwest spokeswoman Mary Beth Schubert says Flight 979, an Airbus A-320 bound from Memphis, Tennessee, to Las Vegas, departed at 8:45 a.m. The plane had 94 people aboard.

Police and firefighters surrounded the aircraft once on the tarmac at Fort Smith. No one was reported hurt.

[shadowman99]

That sounds very series!!

[putupon]

that three suspicious passengers were among the 94 people on the plane, which took off from Memphis, Tenn.

Memphis airport must not have the new and improved federalized security yet. I'm glad we won't have to worry about this hijack business much longer.

[Sabertooth]

The Associated Press reported that three suspicious passengers were among the 94 people on the plane, which took off from Memphis...

Egyptians again.

[thinden]

kfsm now reporting 4 suspects taken from plane in handcuffs.