AUSTIN, TX. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — An American Airlines flight from Austin, Texas, to Charlotte, North Carolina, was delayed Friday, Feb. 7, over a non-credible threat, according to Austin Police.
Authorities at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport say they were alerted to a WiFi hotspot on an American Airlines flight departing for Charlotte using the word “bomb”.
After returning to its gate, the aircraft and luggage were swept for explosives. All passengers were re-screened by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
Austin Police cleared the flight around 4:40 p.m., and the plane left around 6:15 p.m. Central Time. According to FlightAware, the flight to Charlotte Douglas International Airport arrived safely around 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time but was originally set to leave around 1:40 p.m.
Officials say the incident did not impact operations at the airport, and a TSA spokesperson stressed that these types of incidents are taken very seriously. It is unclear if any criminal charges will be filed.
