Purrde Flower
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- Jul 18, 2002
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HOUSTON, Texas (CNN) -- A folding comb mistaken for a knife generated a scare on a Dallas-bound American Airlines flight with 54 people aboard Wednesday, prompting the plane to return to Houston, authorities said.
A federal official said a flight attendant noticed a passenger with a suspicious object, thought it was a knife and alerted a federal air marshal on board.
Before the air marshal could investigate, the flight attendant had already told the pilot the plane should return to Houston.
The passenger was removed from the plane at a remote site when the American Airlines Flight 1702 landed at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
He was questioned along with another passenger, according to American Airlines spokeswoman Andrea Rader. She did not have details on the second passenger.
The federal Transportation Security Administration said the plane and its passengers were searched and no weapons were found. Rader said the plane was searched a second time as a precaution.
"We do know the device in question was a comb," Rader said. "You know, one of those folding combs you comb your hair with."
Rader said she was unsure if the passenger had done anything to bring attention to himself during the flight. The TSA said there were no scuffles aboard.
Two F-16s were scrambled to escort the Fokker F-100, which was surrounded by police and emergency vehicles when it landed.
The plane, carrying 50 passengers and four crew members, was headed to the Dallas-Fort Worth area when it was diverted. It left at 12:28 p.m. (1:28 p.m. ET) and landed about 40 minutes later, said American Airlines spokesman Todd Burke. It was to have gone on to Nashville, Tennessee.
A federal official said a flight attendant noticed a passenger with a suspicious object, thought it was a knife and alerted a federal air marshal on board.
Before the air marshal could investigate, the flight attendant had already told the pilot the plane should return to Houston.
The passenger was removed from the plane at a remote site when the American Airlines Flight 1702 landed at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
He was questioned along with another passenger, according to American Airlines spokeswoman Andrea Rader. She did not have details on the second passenger.
The federal Transportation Security Administration said the plane and its passengers were searched and no weapons were found. Rader said the plane was searched a second time as a precaution.
"We do know the device in question was a comb," Rader said. "You know, one of those folding combs you comb your hair with."
Rader said she was unsure if the passenger had done anything to bring attention to himself during the flight. The TSA said there were no scuffles aboard.
Two F-16s were scrambled to escort the Fokker F-100, which was surrounded by police and emergency vehicles when it landed.
The plane, carrying 50 passengers and four crew members, was headed to the Dallas-Fort Worth area when it was diverted. It left at 12:28 p.m. (1:28 p.m. ET) and landed about 40 minutes later, said American Airlines spokesman Todd Burke. It was to have gone on to Nashville, Tennessee.
