Flight 65, an Airbus A-380 that departed from Los Angeles, landed
safely in Salt Lake City, where passengers and crew were escorted
into the terminal, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation
Administration said. The Salt Lake Tribune, citing an airport
official, said it was carrying 497 passengers and crew.
The FBI said in a statement that no evidence was found aboard the
plane "which would lend credibility to the threats" against the
flight.
The airport said operations were not affected, and local Utah media
including broadcaster KSL reported that passengers had been cleared
to reboard and resume their journey.
Keith Rosso, a passenger who tweeted a photo shortly after takeoff
from Los Angeles, said he was "thankful to everyone who has been
working to keep everyone calm and make sure air travel is safe. Hope
to be taking off again shortly."
A separate Boeing 777 that left Dulles International Airport outside
Washington, D.C., Flight 55, was diverted to Halifax International
Airport in Nova Scotia, which said 262 passengers and crew members
had safely disembarked.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Halifax said on its Twitter
feed that police dogs searched the plane for evidence of explosives,
but no details were disclosed.
In a brief statement, Air France said both flights had been the
"subjects of anonymous threats received after their respective
take-offs."
"As a precautionary measure and to conduct all necessary security
checks, Air France, applying the safety regulations in force,
decided to request the landings of both aircraft," the airline said
in its statement.
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It said authorities inspected the aircraft, passengers and luggage,
adding: “An investigation will be led by the authorities to identify
the source of the telephone call.”
Security officials have been on high alert since Islamic State
militants claimed responsibility for attacks last week in Paris that
killed 129 people. Russia has said the group was also responsible
for the downing on Oct. 31 of a plane returning to St. Petersburg
from the Sharm al-Sheikh resort in Egypt, killing all 224 on board.
The incidents did not appear to be causing flight delays or
cancellations elsewhere.
According to data on flight tracking website flightradar24.com,
flights operated by both Air France and other airlines appear to be
taking off and landing normally at Charles de Gaulle Airport in
Paris.
(Reporting by Victoria Cavaliere, Dan Whitcomb and Steve Gorman in
Los Angeles, Amran Abocar in Toronto and Daniel Wallis in Denver;
Editing by Ken Wills)
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