United Airlines flight from Dallas to Chicago had to make an emergency landing at Lambert St. Louis International Airport in Missouri this morning following a bomb threat. Law enforcement swiftly responded to the plane upon landing, apprehending a passenger. Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, the airport director, confirmed the evacuation of the other passengers from the aircraft.
The flight, originally destined for Chicago O’Hare International Airport, departed from Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport at 6:57 am local time. The diversion and subsequent forced landing occurred around 8:40 am.
According to sources from St. Louis Post Dispatch, the detained individual claimed there was a bomb in his wife’s luggage. The bomb and arson unit continued their search of the airplane until 10:45 am.
In a separate incident, the search for a missing UK Navy crew member off the north-west coast of Ireland was terminated after an extensive multi-agency search. The Irish Coast Guard initiated the search after receiving a distress signal from a UK naval support vessel, RFA Tidesurge. The crew member was last sighted around 10:30 pm on Friday between Tory Island, Co Donegal, and Eagle Island, Co Mayo. The crew member’s identity remains undisclosed at the family’s request for privacy.
Defense Secretary John Healey expressed condolences, acknowledging the efforts of the Irish authorities, RNLI, Royal Air Force, and Royal Navy during the search operation for the missing crew member of RFA Tidesurge.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson confirmed the conclusion of the search for the missing crew member, stating that an investigation is underway. No other individuals were harmed or reported missing in connection with the incident.