A United Airlines flight traveling from Dallas to Chicago was forced to make an emergency landing in St. Louis on Sunday after a passenger claimed that his wife was carrying a bomb in her luggage. The alarming statement led to a full-scale security response, with emergency crews and bomb squads rushing to St. Louis Lambert International Airport.
According to reports by the New York Post and St. Louis Post-Dispatch, United Flight 380 was diverted to St. Louis at around 8:40 a.m. local time after the in-flight scare. Upon landing, all passengers were safely evacuated, and their belongings were screened with bomb detection equipment. Despite the intense search operation, no explosives were discovered, and authorities later confirmed the claim to be a hoax.
Law enforcement officials swiftly detained the passenger responsible for the false alarm for questioning. The individual may face federal charges for disrupting the flight and making a false threat. Airport Director Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge told reporters that all passengers were unharmed and that airport operations resumed shortly after the incident.
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United Airlines issued a statement confirming the event and commending the coordinated efforts of emergency responders. “United Flight 380 from Dallas to Chicago landed safely in St. Louis to address a potential security concern. Law enforcement searched and cleared the aircraft, which later continued its journey,” the airline said. The flight resumed operations later in the afternoon and arrived safely in Chicago.
Incidents involving false bomb threats onboard flights are treated with utmost seriousness under U.S. aviation laws. Passengers found guilty of making such claims face severe legal consequences, including imprisonment and fines. The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to review the incident as part of its ongoing focus on airline safety and security preparedness.
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