Plane diverted to DFW following twitter threat
A Delta flight #1061 from LA to Orlando was diverted to DFW Airport Sunday evening following an online threat.
The flight information online shows that the Orlando bound plane, a Boeing 737-900ER, did indeed land in Dallas shortly before 4 p.m. Passengers say the pilot announced that a threat was made on twitter following the landing.
The FBI is working with DFW police in investigating the threat. An FBI spokesperson believes the threat was first seen by Delta Airlines. We are working to reach Delta Airlines to learn more about the threat that they reportedly responded to.
One particular tweet was sent out from the twitter handle @AllahuAhkbar911, which is now a suspended account, to various groups including @FoxNews and @DeltaAssist. One of the tweets stated in all caps: @FOXNEWS WE HAVE PLANTED EXPLOSIVES ON DELTA FLIGHT #1061 FROM LA TO ORLANDO, WE ARE ISIS, WE ARE HERE, YOU WONT BE.
According to the Associated Press Delta Air Lines spokesman says a flight from Los Angeles to Orlando was diverted to Dallas Sunday afternoon due to "a security concern." Spokesman Morgan Durrant did not give specifics about the nature of the concern on Flight 1061, saying the company would defer to authorities on providing further details
DFW Airport officials say they were alerted to the diversion and provided personnel to investigate the plane.
Passengers have taken to twitter and tweeted out photos of bomb squad on the runway checking out the plane. One passenger even tweeted out "We're all safe" shortly after landing. Airport officials say the 179 passengers and 8 crew members on board were being fed as they searched the plane.
According to Delta Airline flight information, the flight was able to depart on the same airplane around 7:20 p.m. to Orlando. Delta Airlines says they found no threat on board.
Updates on the investigation will be provided as information becomes available.
Sunday's threat comes just a day after two planes were escorted by fighter jets to an airport in Atlanta following a similar threat.
Photos on the runway are courtesy of passenger Eva Groves.