Bomb on plane? All flights suspended; Alarming exchange between air traffic control and pilot PHOTO/VIDEO

A security emergency was declared at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time, affecting a flight that had arrived from Houston and was quickly surrounded by emergency response vehicles.

 

Passengers remaining on the tarmac reported that the bomb threat involved a United Airlines flight from Houston, which was soon surrounded by emergency response vehicles, according to the Daily Mail.

 

Radar data for flights around the airport showed several planes circling above the airport during the traffic halt, while others were diverted to different locations.

Exchange Between Air Traffic Controller and Pilot

A frightening radio exchange between an air traffic controller and a pilot revealed that an unconfirmed bomb threat was the reason for the flight’s halt, WRC-TV, an NBC affiliate, reported.

In the recording, the controller said:

“United 512, I’m sorry I have to do this. We need to turn you around, sir. We have an unconfirmed report of a bomb on your flight. We need to get you off the airport. Make a 180-degree turn, taxi ‘Mike,’ and hold short of Runway 1.”

The pilot confirmed the plane was turning, and the controller added: “I’m sorry, folks.”

“No problem,” the pilot replied.

The airport previously stated that passengers on the United flight were “being deboarded and transported by buses to the terminal.”

“We will provide more information as it becomes available,” the airport said.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said there is a “moderate” likelihood that the flight stoppage will be extended.