SEATTLE - Passengers on board a 747 flight from Taipei, Taiwan are being held on the plane at Sea-Tac International Airport because of a threat of an unknown contaminant.
Officials say an anonymous tip about the threat was given to U.S. Customs officials in New York. The plane, EVA Flight 32 to Newark, New Jersey, with a scheduled stop in Seattle, has been quarantined as a precaution, and none of the plane’s 157 passengers or 14 crew members are being allowed off.
Port of Seattle and Seattle Fire Department crews are helping federal officials search the plane, detecting if anything is suspicious or awry. Health officials and an interpreter are also on the scene. Sea-Tac Airport officials said the search could take a couple of hours.
"In most cases, it turns out not to be anything of significance and passengers are allowed to depart the aircraft," said Deanna Zachrisson, Sea-Tac Airport spokesperson. When asked if there was a possibility that the passengers on board could be quarantined, Zachrisson said it could be possible, but it has never happened at Sea-Tac.
"We have had a number of these scares since September 11," added Zachrisson. "They've been a regular occurence, but we are relieved that each and every one of these occurences has been a false alarm. We're hoping that this is the case this time."
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Officials say an anonymous tip about the threat was given to U.S. Customs officials in New York. The plane, EVA Flight 32 to Newark, New Jersey, with a scheduled stop in Seattle, has been quarantined as a precaution, and none of the plane’s 157 passengers or 14 crew members are being allowed off.
Port of Seattle and Seattle Fire Department crews are helping federal officials search the plane, detecting if anything is suspicious or awry. Health officials and an interpreter are also on the scene. Sea-Tac Airport officials said the search could take a couple of hours.
"In most cases, it turns out not to be anything of significance and passengers are allowed to depart the aircraft," said Deanna Zachrisson, Sea-Tac Airport spokesperson. When asked if there was a possibility that the passengers on board could be quarantined, Zachrisson said it could be possible, but it has never happened at Sea-Tac.
"We have had a number of these scares since September 11," added Zachrisson. "They've been a regular occurence, but we are relieved that each and every one of these occurences has been a false alarm. We're hoping that this is the case this time."
Other
