Southwest Airlines plane diverted for possible threat

By FOX 10 News - Staff Report


PHOENIX (FOX10) --




A Southwest Airlines flight originating from LAX and heading to Austin was diverted to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport Monday afternoon following a possible threat.

After the plane landed and parked in an isolated area, Police and Fire responded to check it out. Explosive experts and bomb-sniffing dogs will then examine the plane for any suspicious devices, which is expected to take several hours.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Passengers were allowed to deplane and got on waiting buses to be taken to a secure area to be interviewed. Southwest Airlines said they will be put on a later flight.

Flight 2675 had 143 passengers aboard and left about 1:30 p.m., and was supposed to be non-stop to Austin. But the plane was diverted when law enforcement in Los Angeles contacted Phoenix Police regarding a possible threat to the plane.

All other flights in and out of Sky Harbor are on schedule, an airport spokesperson said.

Until this incident is resolved, people arriving at Sky Harbor should enter and exit the airport on the east side. Use Loop 202 or State Route 143 to enter and exit Phoenix Sky Harbor. Traffic is restricted on the west side of the airport.