Passengers aboard an American Airlines flight got more than they bargained for after the aircraft had to divert due to a bomb threat. The aircraft diverted safely to Pittsburgh and was searched by the FBI before taking off for its destination.
Bomb threat
American Airlines Flight 1603 offers daily nonstop service from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). However, the September 4th flight was more eventful than needed.
Photo: Flight Aware
According to CBS News, the flight on Wednesday morning had to divert after a cabin crew member found a bomb threat written on the bathroom door. The flight attendant noticed some faint pink writing, which referred to a bomb on the aircraft.
As a result, the crew promptly diverted to the closest airport, Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT). According to Flight Aware, the aircraft had been airborne for only 54 minutes when the diversion began. The aircraft touched down without issue at PIT 27 minutes later.
Federal Bureau of Investigation Agents and local law enforcement were waiting at the airport. They boarded and conducted a thorough search of the Boeing 737-800 and found no evidence of a bomb. Afterward, the flight was cleared to continue to Dallas.
After a four-hour and forty-minute delay, the aircraft departed from PIT at 15:09 EDT and landed at DFW at 16:35 CDT.
Simple Flying has contacted American Airlines for more details on the bomb threat.
Threats and their effect on operations
Bomb threats are, unfortunately, quite common, averaging around one a month globally. Luckily, most are just threats, and no devices have been found. The last bomb threat in the US occurred in April onboard another American Airlines flight from Dallas to Baltimore.
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
In April’s case, the passengers were severely inconvenienced and stuck onboard the aircraft parked on the apron for hours. The crew landed at Baltimore Airport after the bomb threat was discovered mid-flight and had to taxi to a remote location at the airport to reduce the threat of damage.
There has been a sharp rise in bomb threats in India. This year alone, there have been seven bomb threats.
Dangers of bombs on jetliners
While the chances of an actual bomb being smuggled onto an airliner today are minute, there have been instances where small bombs have brought down aircraft.
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
According to Reuters, in 2015, an Airbus A321 operated by Metrojet was brought down by a bomb. ISIS claimed responsibility for the “Schweppes bomb,” which was a makeshift bomb using a Schweppes Gold soft drink bottle. The bombing claimed the lives of 219 Russians.
Jimmie Oxley, a chemistry professor at the University of Rhode Island specializing in explosives, discussed how a small bomb can take down a large jetliner. He said, “The placement is the critical thing.” If the bomb is placed close to a fuel line, the fuselage skin, or the cockpit, the results could be devastating.
If an explosion occurs onboard an aircraft, the pilots will attempt to safely but rapidly descend to reduce the effects of cabin decompression and then land. This is easier said than done, but it has been done.
American Airlines
- IATA/ICAO Code
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AA/AAL
- Year Founded
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1926
- Country
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United States