Fighter Jets Scramble to Escort Air France Plane After Threat

An Air France plane was being escorted to JFK airport in New York City this morning after an anonymous threat was made against the flight, a senior U.S. official told ABC News.

The threat is not considered to be credible, but when officials tried to reach Air France representatives they were unsuccessful because it is also a state holiday in France.

The caller said that four flights had devices on board but only specified the JFK-bound Air France flight.

The Airbus A-330 has since landed and was taken between two runways and locked down while the threat is investigated.

During an initial investigation, nothing dangerous has been found on board, the federal official told ABC.

Fighter Jets Scramble to Escort Air France Plane After Threat

Looks like the source of this threat isn't credible. Thankfully nothing was found on the plane so far. However, they did claim there was four devices on four different planes. So hopefully someone is just making stuff up. Another news source claimed that it was a chemical weapon that was supposedly claimed to be on board. I'm looking for that source again now.

I don't believe anything will come of it. Though, a lot of stuff can happen on an international flight.

A second flight with a similar outcome..

"BREAKING: 2nd Flight, Saudi Airlines, Makes Emergency Landing at JFK After Threat"

breaking911.com...

a reply to: opethPA

Oh wow...

If any more planes make emergency landings due to threats, there might be something to it. I'm still highly skeptical at this point. But that's a bit beyond coincidental.

originally posted by: EternalSolace
a reply to: opethPA

Oh wow...

If any more planes make emergency landings due to threats, there might be something to it. I'm still highly skeptical at this point. But that's a bit beyond coincidental.

Well, not really. The caller mentioned 4 flights so they'll probably ground the likely candidates and check them out just to be safe.

Unfortunately, it looks like terrorists just found a very easy way to disrupt air travel. A simple phone call can scramble fighter jets, divert a flight, and screw over all the passengers who were trying to be somewhere at a specific time.

Two flights make emergency landing

Daily Mail is also reporting there's been a threat to a third flight, American Airlines. I'm looking for more information to back that up.

a reply to: Answer

They originally claimed the caller did not identify the other planes. Only the Air France flight. If he did identy four separate flights, I can agree that it's nothing. If not, I wonder how they're receiving these threats.

originally posted by: EternalSolace
a reply to: Answer

They originally claimed the caller did not identify the other planes. Only the Air France flight. If he did identy four separate flights, I can agree that it's nothing. If not, I wonder how they're receiving these threats.

Yeah, he might not have mentioned them by name but I'm sure the FAA can get a good feel for which ones should be grounded based on his threat.

Notice that both flights were diverted to JFK airport...

Must have something to do with the upcoming Patriot Act expirations.

What day is it today? Oh…

a reply to: intrptr

Happy Memorial Day!
Never forget JFK

originally posted by: Answer

originally posted by: EternalSolace
a reply to: opethPA

Oh wow...

If any more planes make emergency landings due to threats, there might be something to it. I'm still highly skeptical at this point. But that's a bit beyond coincidental.

Well, not really. The caller mentioned 4 flights so they'll probably ground the likely candidates and check them out just to be safe.

Unfortunately, it looks like terrorists just found a very easy way to disrupt air travel. A simple phone call can scramble fighter jets, divert a flight, and screw over all the passengers who were trying to be somewhere at a specific time.

Not a good precedent at all, playing right into the cards of those in control, that is, if they're not the ones secretly holding all hands,...

How many planes will they need to ground before your average once-a-year traveler demands more security?

a reply to: Answer

It's starting to look like you're roght. The plot does seem to be a disruption in air travel. To what end, who knows. This was just added to the source in my OP:

The threat was not considered to be credible as law enforcement and aviation officials told ABC News that they are responding to multiple, unconfirmed threats to multiple airplanes bound for different airports.

No word on how many, or what airports yet.

I'm leaning towards Xuenchen's theory that this is about reviving the patriot act through fear mongering.

People have been calling in threats to planes for every reason you can think of for years, many resulting in them being escorted somewhere and searched. There was even one a couple of years ago that a woman called in a threat because her sister was going to miss the flight because they were running late and she wanted to delay it. The number of threats called in, versus the number of flights isn't even a blip on the radar, and many you don't even hear of.

a reply to: EternalSolace

So in other words ass hats calling in threats to disrupt holiday air travel.