US

F-15 Fighter Jets Scrambled to Escort U.S. Airways Flight With ‘Security Issue’

F 15s Escort US Airways Flight Diverted to Bangor, Maine

(Photo: WLB2)

AUGUSTA, Maine (The Blaze/AP) — A US Airways jetliner flying from Paris to Charlotte, N.C., was diverted to a Maine airport on Tuesday because of what an airline spokesman described as a “security issue.”

A person briefed on the incident said a female passenger announced she had a surgically implanted device, and the staff grew concerned after the woman passed a note to the flight attendant.  It is unclear what exactly the note said.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity because it involved sensitive law enforcement information, Fox is reporting that while the woman “behaved in a surprising manner,“ the investigation indicates she ”never posed a threat.”

Regardless, two F-15 fighters were scrambled to escort the plane, according to a spokesman for the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

The Boeing 767 with 179 passengers and nine crew members landed around noon at Bangor International Airport, said US Airways spokesman Andrew Christie.

The Transportation Security Administration issued a statement saying it was aware of “a passenger who exhibited suspicious behavior” during the flight. “Out of an abundance of caution the flight was diverted to (Bangor) where it was met by law enforcement,” the statement said.

The plane was met by state, local and federal law enforcement officers in Bangor, FBI spokesman Greg Comcowich said. He declined to say whether anyone was in custody and referred all other questions to the TSA.

The Bangor airport is accustomed to dealing with diverted flights.

It’s the first large U.S. airport for incoming European flights, and it’s the last U.S. airport for outgoing flights, with uncluttered skies and one of the longest runways on the East Coast. Aircraft use the airport when there are mechanical problems, medical emergencies or unruly passengers.

—

The Blaze’s Erica Ritz, and Associated Press writers Eileen Sullivan and Clarke Canfield contributed to this report.

Comments (40)

  • notall
    Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:10am

    Just dont fly.anymore it just makes you a chump.

    Report Post »  
  • rl
    Posted on May 23, 2012 at 12:26am

    F-15 FIGHTER JETS SCRAMBLED TO ESCORT U.S. AIRWAYS FLIGHT WITH ‘SECURITY ISSUE’

    Was that to get good pictures if it blows up???????

    Report Post » rl  
  • AlcoholicMB
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 7:54pm

    Another false-flag event? I believe so.

    Report Post » AlcoholicMB  
  • KOCHLEFFEL
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 6:19pm

    Have you people ever heard of a pacemaker?

    Report Post »  
  • bane73
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 4:50pm

    Dry Run.

    Report Post »  
    • Stink Fist
      Posted on May 22, 2012 at 5:47pm

      Blaze never post my Reply’s – go Ron Paul!

      Report Post »  
    • Quiata
      Posted on May 22, 2012 at 6:21pm

      Official stance: “Nothing to see here….move along…”

      Report Post »  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:23am

      21% of Cameroon population are Muslim. The Woman with the French Passport is from Cameroon. It might mean nothing. Or it might be a dry run.

      It is interesting that the nut cases keep up with current events. They said it was a body implant & not a shoe bomb or any other type of bomb.

      Report Post »  
  • sizzler2220
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 3:49pm

    Arrest her. Put her on the no fly list for the rest of her life. Keep her in the US until she pays for the F-15 fiasco and pays for the inconvience of all the passengers.

    Report Post »  
    • Stink Fist
      Posted on May 22, 2012 at 5:45pm

      How do you know? She could of really had explosives in her. Terrorist may be keeping family hostage. She might of been told she would be watched. Maybe she gave the note to try to save her loved ones.
      It is standard practice for terrorist to use family as hostages. The also use mentally insane/unstable people and dose them with lots of drugs for suicide attack. Drugs could of worn off.

      Report Post »  
  • Blazen420
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 3:25pm

    Apparently she was mad because she didn’t get her gentitals groped…..

    Report Post »  
    • Tom K
      Posted on May 22, 2012 at 4:13pm

      @ BLAZEN420 : That is guranteed on the RETURN flight, Charlotte to Paris. T.S.A. will deliver a groping she can write home about !

      Report Post »  
  • Blazen420
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 3:22pm

    So how are F-15′s gonna help those onboard?

    Report Post »  
    • Tom K
      Posted on May 22, 2012 at 4:24pm

      @ BLAZEN 420 : Hello again. If that woman was bragging about “ devices ” implanted in her body, other women on board the plane might just feel that their life was over and the F-15′s were there to put them out of their misery. You see, the ” Ineligible One’s ” Air Force is there to serve !

      Report Post »  
  • inferno
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 2:38pm

    It was probably missed during screening, due to the fact they were groping 3year olds, Grandmothers and others children in wheel chairs. it would be no surprise if she appeared to be middle eastern.

    Report Post »  
    • Gypsy123
      Posted on May 22, 2012 at 2:51pm

      You know I bet that is what it was. It is so much easier for them to attack kids and handicapped than the people who need to be checked

      Report Post » Gypsy123  
  • SteelRight
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 2:37pm

    Was this an international flight? Was she middle eastern,white,black,brown,yellow?This article is very vague..

    Report Post »  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 2:10pm

    Well she has something in common with our Marxist heathen president then,he has an idiot chip implanted in his razor thin brain.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
  • RayOne
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 2:08pm

    Post the full body X-ray images on line with name and address.
    This behavior wasn’t very thoughtful, and it may help create a personality profile that is useful.

    Report Post » RayOne  
  • 13th Imam
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 1:56pm

    Probably an IUD

    Intra Uterine Device- And Actual Taxpayers probably paid for it.

    Report Post » 13th Imam  
  • Mr. H.
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 1:51pm

    When are we going to wake up, forget the intensive searching, and start profiling, everyone. Profiling is far more successful, much less intrusive, and safer than searching. El Al profiles, picks out potential problems, and gets everyone on board and settled much faster. El Al has not had a“Richard the shoe bomber” or an “Abdulmatlab the underwear bomber” since the profiling security measures started. El Al uses their own employees and not tax dollar paid profilers who are better trained, more adaptable, and very capable people.

    Report Post »  
  • Elena2010
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 1:45pm

    Next up — MRI’s for all air pax.

    Report Post » Elena2010  
    • AWAKENEDAWARE
      Posted on May 22, 2012 at 2:14pm

      Better an MRI than some p.o.s. minimum wage pedophile groping my kid! MRI is low radiation level.

      Report Post » AWAKENEDAWARE  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:18am

      AWAKENEDAWARE

      A CT scan increases cancer risk 4 in 1,000. MRIs are better but dosage adds up.

      We need to offend. offend & Offend until they are scared or dead. Meaning they place nice with the rest of us or they are gone.

      Report Post »  
  • ReaganBaby
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 1:43pm

    What was the purpose of the f-15s?

    Report Post » ReaganBaby  
    • Elena2010
      Posted on May 22, 2012 at 1:54pm

      Shoot down

      Report Post » Elena2010  
    • candcantiques
      Posted on May 22, 2012 at 1:55pm

      The F-15′s are tasked with shooting down the plane should it be taken over by terrorists. No I am NOT kidding.

      MORE IMPORTANTLY this was a propaganda BS set up by those that control our government. Watch this story just quitly dissapear in a few days. You will never hear anything about the person who “claimed to have an implanted device”. It will all just go away. Thats when you know it’s all BS and made up.

      Report Post »  
    • FromSeaToSea
      Posted on May 22, 2012 at 1:57pm

      The F15′s option is shoot the jet down before entering air space over a city if it is determined a real bomb exists and the probability is to explode it.

      Report Post »  
    • DarthMims
      Posted on May 22, 2012 at 2:00pm

      To destroy the aircraft if it appeared to be heading for a densely populated area.

      Report Post » DarthMims  
    • gr8t2bfree
      Posted on May 22, 2012 at 2:04pm

      F15s are offered to Al quieda so they won’t blow up the plane. ha ha ha

      Report Post » gr8t2bfree  
    • Buck Shane
      Posted on May 22, 2012 at 2:51pm

      So, you don’t have to blow up the plane, you just need to say you will and the F-15 will do it for you.

      Report Post » Buck Shane  
  • Krazy_Kreepy_Ketchup
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 1:35pm

    Another reason to get MORE invasive searches at the airports

    Report Post » Krazy_Kreepy_Ketchup  
    • Elena2010
      Posted on May 22, 2012 at 1:43pm

      ‘Fraid so.

      Profile! Get ahead of the bad guys.

      Current security is all about yesterday by reacting to what happened yesterday. It will not enhance safety today or tomorrow.

      Report Post » Elena2010  
    • progressiveslayer
      Posted on May 22, 2012 at 2:12pm

      Indeed,everyone should undergo exploratory surgery at the airport,and more laws yes more laws and regulations will save us.

      Report Post » progressiveslayer  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 1:29pm

    Well, let‘s hope it’s just another loon and the body bomb hasn’t been perfected.

    Report Post » Gonzo  

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love