A United Airlines flight bound for Los Angeles was diverted to Chicago on Wednesday morning following a bomb threat reported on board.
United Flight 1533, with 202 passengers and nine crew members, departed from Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. It made an unscheduled landing at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago after a note suggesting a potential explosion was discovered in the aircraft’s restroom, as per CBS News.
A bomb-sniffing K-9 detected a suspicious bag, prompting authorities to deploy a robot to move it. The person associated with the bag is currently being questioned by police.
United Airlines stated that the diversion was due to “a potential security concern.” However, according to an airline source cited by CBS, the scent detected by the dog was linked to the note found on board.
“After landing safely, the flight was met by local law enforcement. Passengers disembarked, and we anticipate the flight will resume its journey to Los Angeles later today,” United Airlines communicated in an emailed statement.
Passengers were evacuated from the aircraft and transported by bus to a remote section of the airport, accompanied by police. They were informed that their belongings would remain on board, and uncertainty loomed regarding subsequent procedures.