Thread: London-to-D.C. flight diverts after altercation

London-to-D.C. flight diverts after altercation
Woman with matches, screwdriver had note allegedly referencing al-Qaida

NBC News and news services
Updated: 14 minutes ago

BOSTON - An overseas flight from London's Heathrow Airport to Washington, D.C. was diverted to Boston on Wednesday after the pilot declared an emergency because of a passenger disturbance, the airline said.
A female passenger aboard United Flight 923 had Vaseline, a screw driver, matches and a note referencing al-Qaida, according to Phil Orlandella, spokesman for Boston's Logan International Airport.
He said the flight was escorted to Boston by two F-15 fighter jets. The jets were scrambled from Otis Air Force Base located in Cape Code, Mass.
NBC News has been told there was never a threat of terrorism. The pilot decided to land at the nearest airport after the altercation. The woman was taken off the plane, which is planned to continue to Dulles International Airport.
‘Suspicious’ activity
The flight, with 182 passengers and 12 crew members landed safely, United spokesman Brandon Borrman said. Borrman said a female passenger was spotted engaging in some "suspicious" activity, but he could not immediately say what the activity was.
State Police and federal agencies took control of the plane after it landed.
Passengers were seen coming off the plane on the tarmac and being loaded onto a bus. Orlandella said their carry-on luggage was being checked.
Last week, British authorities said they foiled a terror plot to blow up trans-Atlantic flights from London to the United States.
United Airlines was one of three airlines allegedly targeted by terrorists plotting to detonate liquid explosives in up to 10 aircraft flying from London. The other two airlines were American and Continental.
The terror alert level for flights from London was heightened to red, or “critical,” for days after the plot was thwarted by UK officials. Since then the level has been lowered to orange, or “high alert.”
The Associated Press and NBC News contributed to this report.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14375133/

How on earth did she get on with such items, with heightened security?

My 3 yr. old grandson wasn't allowed water, on his flight last Sunday.

It sounds like a diversion, for a ground attack......Id say TUBE.......

I heard later she didnt have these articles, another woman tried to get on the plane with them. You know it is funny after all afternoon about this plane not much about it tonight on the talk shows! I thought that was interesting.