A flight operated by United Airlines traveling from Dallas to Chicago was forced to land at Lambert St. Louis International Airport in Missouri this morning due to a bomb threat. Following the emergency landing, authorities swiftly responded to the situation and detained a passenger. Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, the airport director, confirmed that the remaining passengers were safely evacuated from the aircraft.
The flight, originally headed to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, departed from Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport at 6:57 am local time. The unexpected diversion and subsequent landing occurred at approximately 8:40 am.
According to sources from the St. Louis Post Dispatch, the apprehended individual claimed there was a bomb in his wife’s luggage. As of 10:45 am, bomb and arson unit personnel were still conducting a thorough search of the plane.
Meanwhile, the search for a missing UK Navy crew member off the north-west coast of Ireland has been terminated. A significant collaborative search effort was initiated after a distress call was received from a UK naval support vessel by the Irish Coast Guard on Saturday morning. The crew member from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Tidesurge was last spotted around 10:30 pm on Friday in the vicinity between Tory Island, Co Donegal, and Eagle Island, Co Mayo. The crew member’s identity has not been disclosed, respecting the family’s request for privacy.
Defence Secretary John Healey expressed his condolences, stating, “After an extensive search, it is with deep sadness that we confirm the missing crew member of RFA Tidesurge has not been found. My thoughts are with their family during this tragic time, as well as their fellow crew members. I am hugely grateful to the Irish authorities, the RNLI, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy who have responded rapidly to this incident and have worked tirelessly on the search.”
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Defence remarked, “After an extensive search for a missing crew member of a Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ship’s company, the individual has not been found, and the search has now ended. The individual’s family have been informed, and an investigation is now under way into the incident. No other individuals have been harmed or reported missing.”
