These days, incidents on the plane are more interesting than the in-flight movie.
After a passenger discovered a bomb threat note in the aircraft’s lavatory, the situation aboard United Airlines Flight 3613 to Vermont quickly deteriorated. According to reports, the incident occurred on March 12 just prior to the plane’s scheduled landing.
Sunday, the plane took off from Newark, New Jersey and landed at Burlington International Airport at 4:30 p.m. according to FlightAware.
Nic Longo, the Director of Aviation at Burlington International Airport, told reporters at a press conference that the flight crew reported a possible bomb threat to air traffic control 20 minutes prior to the scheduled landing.
The authorities did not specify the nature of the threat, but they did state that the pilot reported someone had found a threatening note in the plane’s restroom.
In audio obtained by reporters from a local news station, the pilot is heard claiming that a flight attendant informed him that a passenger discovered a note claiming a bomb was hidden on board.
Air traffic controllers immediately activated emergency procedures. When the plane landed, it was redirected to a location far from the other parked planes, and the police immediately responded.
According to a statement released by the Vermont State Police on Sunday, the Vermont State Police bomb squad was called to assist local authorities.
The authorities conducted a thorough search of the aircraft and each passenger’s luggage but found nothing suspicious. At approximately 7 p.m., officials briefed all 65 passengers on the bomb threat before allowing them to disembark.
All passengers were transported to the terminal without incident, where they retrieved their belongings.
The airport was closed during the incident and did not reopen until approximately 7:30 p.m., after the incident had concluded.
Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Vermont State Police, and South Burlington Police Department were all dispatched to the scene.
Republic Airways, the airline that operated the flight, thanked the emergency personnel for their prompt response and the passengers for their composure throughout the ordeal.