GLENN ADAMS, Associated Press Writer
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — An American citizen on a flight from Paris to Atlanta claimed to have a fake passport and said he had explosives in his luggage, forcing federal air marshals to intervene and the plane to land in Maine, U.S. officials said Tuesday.
The officials, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing, believe the man's passport was authentic.
There were 235 passengers and eight crew aboard Delta Air Lines Flight 273, which landed safely just after at 3:30 p.m. at Bangor International Airport, Delta spokeswoman Susan Elliott said.
Federal officials met the aircraft at the airport. The Transportation Security Administration said the passenger was being interviewed by law enforcement.
After the man was apprehended, flight attendants moved passengers forward to clear out space in the rear of the plane, a passenger told CNN.
"We were told there was some danger and some threats made, but beyond that we weren't told anything else," said the passenger, Adithya Sastry. Sastry said a passenger sitting next to him told him that the "young man" who was apprehended was carrying a backpack.
Elliott said late Tuesday afternoon that the Airbus A330 remained on the ground in Bangor but that the airline planned to continue the flight to Atlanta.
All passengers were taken off the plane because it was an international flight and they needed to clear customs, said Rebecca Hupp, a spokeswoman for Bangor International Airport.
The Bangor airport is accustomed to dealing with diverted flights.
It's the first large U.S. airport for incoming European flights, and it's the last U.S. airport for outgoing flights, with uncluttered skies and one of the longest runways on the East Coast. Aircraft use the airport when there are mechanical problems, medical emergencies or unruly passengers.
Delta, based in Atlanta, is the world's largest airline and has a joint venture with Air France-KLM on flights across the Atlantic.
___
Associated Press writers Eileen Sullivan and Joan Lowy in Washington and Harry Weber in Atlanta contributed to this report.
GLENN ADAMS,Associated Press Writer
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — UPDATE 3:30 p.m. CDT: An American citizen on a flight from Paris to Atlanta claimed to have a fake passport and said he had explosives in his luggage, forcing federal air marshals to intervene and the plane to land in Maine, U.S. officials said Tuesday.
The officials, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing, believe the man's passport is authentic.
There were 235 passengers and eight crew aboard the Delta Air Lines Airbus A330, which landed safely just after at 3:30 p.m. at Bangor International Airport, Delta spokeswoman Susan Elliott said.
Federal officials met the aircraft at the airport. The Transportation Security Administration said the passenger was being interviewed by law enforcement.
Delta, based in Atlanta, is the world's largest airline and has a joint venture with Air France-KLM on flights across the Atlantic.
Bangor International Airport is accustomed to dealing with diverted flights.
It's the first large U.S. airport for incoming European flights, and it's the last U.S. airport for outgoing flights, with uncluttered skies and one of the longest runways on the East Coast. Aircraft use the airport when there are mechanical problems, medical emergencies or unruly passengers.
The Bangor airport is also a busy refueling hub for troop transports taking military personnel to and from Iraq and Afghanistan.
___
Associated Press writers Eileen Sullivan in Washington and Harry Weber in Atlanta contributed to this report.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE: Read earlier version below.
EILEEN SULLIVAN, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — UPDATE 3:20 p.m. CDT: U.S. officials say an American citizen on a flight from Paris to Atlanta claimed to have a fake passport and said he had explosives in his luggage.
The officials say federal air marshals are on the flight and that the cockpit is secure. The flight was diverted to Bangor, Maine, due to the incident. Officials believe the man's passport is authentic.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.
Delta spokeswoman Susan Elliott says there are 235 passengers and eight crew aboard the Airbus 330, which landed safely at 3:37 p.m. EDT at Bangor International Airport.
Federal officials met the aircraft at the airport. The TSA says the passenger is being interviewed by law enforcement.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE: Read earlier version below.
BANGOR, Maine (AP) — The Transportation Security Administration says a flight from Paris to Atlanta has been diverted to an airport in Maine after federal air marshals responded to a passenger causing a disturbance.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Jim Peters says Delta Air Lines Flight 273 is scheduled to land at the Bangor International Airport on Tuesday afternoon. He says the plane is an Airbus 320, but he doesn't know how many passengers and crew are aboard.
Further details aren't available.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
Read more:
Delta flight diverts to Maine after disturbance (Reuters)
Delta flight to Atlanta diverted (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
Passenger's comment detours flight (WPTV)
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWFXL