BANGOR, Maine (NEWS CENTER)-- Fighter Jets scrambled today when a woman on a US Airways flight from Paris to Charlotte North Carolina caused concern that she might be implanted with a bomb.
As a precaution, authorities said the flight was diverted to Bangor International Airport when a woman on the plane gave a flight attendant a note stating she had a surgically implanted device. Doctors looked her over but could not find any surgical scars.
The crew then decided to divert to Bangor.
"We landed and then were met by about a dozen different emergency vehicles, the flashing lights. They came aboard the plane, told everybody to stay off their phones and they arrested her-took her off the back of the plane. Then they deplaned everyone and took us on to some commercial buses," Passenger Carol Garrison said.
Authorities at the airport did confirm that the woman was taken into custody by federal authorities.
Garrison said after the woman was taken off the plane, bomb sniffing dogs were brought onto the plane.
"They searched the entire plane, all the contents. They had to come back and access some bags that some people had taken off. According to them, the dogs couldn't find anything and everything was good," Garrison said.
BIA Airport Director Tony Caruso said when passengers fly into the United States from overseas; they have to get screened before they can board the plane. And those screenings have to comply with T.S.A. requirements.
If there is a concern during the flight, Bangor is a place that can handle this type of situation.
"Bangor is well known in the industry and certainly worldwide to be able to handle these types of diversions. Whether it's weather, medical or certainly safety or security issue," Caruso said.
Garrison said she's pleased with the way the situation was handled.
"I think there was a little bit of nervousness in the beginning, but in the end everyone is very appreciative of what the security on the plane and off the plane did and we're appreciative of what they did and they did an excellent job," Garrison said.
Precautions taken and no one hurt.
NEWS CENTER