Replies

Chicago-Bound Plane From D.C. Evacuated

Chicago-Bound Plane From Reagan National Airport Evacuated After Passenger Boards, Then Leaves

The Associated Press

ARLINGTON, Va. Aug. 15, 2004 — A Chicago-bound flight from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was evacuated Saturday after suspicious behavior by a passenger, officials said Sunday.

Passengers were boarding United Airlines Flight 627 before 6 p.m. when a Middle Eastern man abruptly got off the plane, airport and Transportation Security Administration officials said.

The Airbus A320 and the airport concourse were evacuated and all passengers were rescreened, said Amy Von Walter, a TSA spokeswoman.

The passenger was found, but couldn't be questioned immediately because he didn't speak English, Von Walter said.

He was turned over to the FBI, who questioned and released him after 10 p.m., said Debbie Weierman, Washington field office spokeswoman. Weierman said the man had decided to change his flight plans for personal reasons.

The plane, carrying 74 passengers, took off more than two hours late and landed safely in Chicago, an airline spokesman said.

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20040815_899.html

Plane lands after bomb threat

From correspondents in Budapest
August 16, 2004

A REPORTED bomb threat forced a Lufthansa flight bound from Istanbul to Frankfurt to make an emergency landing in Budapest today, Hungarian commercial radio Inforadio reported.

A police bomb squad was checking the plane for any explosives after the flight's 172 passengers and six crew were evacuated, Inforadio reported.

The radio said the plane made the emergency landing at 3 pm local time (11pm AEST).

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,10458275%255E1702,00.html

Something is amiss with this report. Is the day or time wrong?

Today is Sunday -- I am in Arlington, and it is not "shortly before 6 PM." Indeed, no way could this person have been handed to the FBI, questioned and released, bt "10 PM."

It is only 2:39 PM now. I know, I am in Arlington!

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Computers used by Purdue University police and airport were inoperable for a time after someone cut the underground fiber optic cables that carry data to the systems, police said.

Intruders entered the utility tunnels through a sidewalk grate, police said.

The damage was done early Saturday when someone used bolt cutters to sever several large fiber optic cables that lead to campus computers and coaxial cables connected to university residence hall cable systems, said Purdue University Deputy Police Chief Steven Dietrich.

The damage to the cables stalled computer service to the police department dispatch system and the Purdue University Airport records system, along with other campus buildings. Dietrich said it is hard to say how much data was lost at the police department.

Workers were able to restore service to all buildings within 24 hours.

Dietrich estimated damage at $500 to $1,000.

"We're not sure if it was one, two or 10 (vandals)," Dietrich said. "They're a dangerous place to be in -- the steam tunnels. There's a great deal of potential harm."

http://www.indystar.com/articles/3/169130-5033-102.html