Pictures: AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Updated 8.20pm

A US AIRWAYS flight from Shannon to Philadelphia made an emergency landing in a remote location of Philadelphia International Airport after authorities were alerted to an “unsubstantiated” threat.

The threat has transpired to be unfounded with all 171 passengers and 8 crew as well as the Boeing 757 aircraft itself cleared following a screening by authorities.

The US Airways Flight 777 from Shannon arrived at the airport just before 2pm local time (7pm Irish time) today – it had been due to land there anyway – with police in Philadelphia saying that a threat had been called in by an unknown male.

A US Airways spokeswoman initially declined to comment but in a statement a short time ago, the airline said: “We were aware of a possible security issue with the flight and out of an abundance of caution taxied the aircraft to a remote location, where it was met by law enforcement and emergency personnel.”

Law enforcement officials met the plane on the tarmac and passengers exited the jet to waiting buses where they were taken to the main terminal building.

FBI spokeswoman Carrie Adamowski told AP that agents are assisting Transportation Security Administration officials in the investigation.

A spokesperson for the Philadelphia Police Department told TheJournal.ie that the flight was inbound from Ireland and made an emergency landing after a threat was made.

“The people on board as well as the crew were taken off the plane and were screened and so was the luggage,” the spokesperson said.

US customs officials have screening facilities at Shannon Airport and the passengers aboard the plane would have gone through them before boarding.

First published 7.17pm