Phoned-in threat forces L.A.-to-Texas flight to land in Phoenix

Associated Press

Published Monday, June 10, 2013 | 4:36 p.m.

Updated Monday, June 10, 2013 | 6:04 p.m.

PHOENIX — A "telephonic bomb threat" against a Southwest Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Austin, Texas, resulted in the plane being diverted to Phoenix on Monday afternoon, the FBI said.

Special agent Manuel Johnson, a spokesman for the FBI's Phoenix division, said the flight left Los Angeles International Airport at 2:12 p.m. before the threat was received by telephone. He didn't provide further details.

"The FBI and law enforcement partners are responding to conduct an investigation of the aircraft, as well as to determine the person or persons responsible for the threat," Johnson's statement said.

Flight 2675 landed safely at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport at about 3 p.m., and authorities in Los Angeles asked Phoenix police to check out the possible threat, Sky Harbor officials said.

The plane's crew and 143 passengers got off the plane and boarded several buses. All of the passengers were being interviewed by investigators, said Sgt. Steve Martos, a Phoenix police spokesman.

A bomb squad and police dogs were going through the plane Monday evening, police said.

Sky Harbor spokeswoman Julie Rodriguez said the plane was isolated on the tarmac away from terminals.

Flights were taking off and landing only on the airport's two south runways Monday evening due to the investigation, and some flight arrivals were delayed, Rodriguez said.

Martos said it would probably take "a couple hours" for a bomb squad and police dogs to go through the plane.

A spokeswoman for Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co. said the airline would accommodate passengers with other flights.