2 Seattle planes evacuated, 3rd diverted over security concerns

SEATAC, Wash. — Two planes were evacuated on arrival Sunday at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport due to what a spokesman called a “security concern.”

Airport spokesman Perry Cooper said a JetBlue flight from Long Beach (Los Angeles County) and a regional SkyWest jet from Phoenix were the aircraft involved.

Cooper said that out of an abundance of caution, passengers were bused to their gates from the airport’s third runway. He said the matter was under investigation, and he did not have further details.

Additionally, a Delta Air Lines spokesman says a flight from Los Angeles to Orlando, Fla., was diverted to Dallas on Sunday afternoon due to “a security concern.” Spokesman Morgan Durrant said passengers on Flight 1061 got off the Boeing 737-900 so authorities could search the aircraft.

Laura Eimiller, a spokeswoman for the FBI in Los Angeles, said online threats targeted the JetBlue and Delta flights. She said there was no known threat to any aircraft that departed from the Los Angeles area and that as part of the investigation agents will determine whether the threats were related.

The flight disruptions come a day after bomb threats targeted two jets bound for Atlanta, prompting F-16 fighter jets to escort the planes. The threats posted on the social media network Twitter targeted Southwest Airlines Flight 2492, which arrived at Atlanta from Milwaukee, and Delta Air Lines Flight 1156, which arrived from Portland, Ore. No explosives were found.

It was unclear if any of threats were connected.

Spokesman Morgan Durrant did not give specifics about the nature of the concern about Flight 1061, saying the company would defer to authorities on providing further details. He said passengers exited the Boeing 737-900, which was being examined by authorities.

Dallas-Fort Worth Airport spokesman David Magana told KXAS-TV that “the airport is responding per protocol.”

An FAA spokesman said the agency has no jurisdiction in security matters and directed inquiries to the airlines, FBI and TSA. Representatives of TSA could not immediately be reached.