A flight operated by United Airlines traveling from Dallas to Chicago was forced to make an emergency landing at Lambert St. Louis International Airport in Missouri earlier today due to a bomb threat. Upon landing, law enforcement quickly responded to the situation, arresting a passenger while evacuating the other travelers 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 diversion and subsequent emergency landing occurred at approximately 8:40 am.
According to sources from St. Louis Post Dispatch, the detained individual claimed there was a bomb in his wife’s luggage, prompting a thorough search of the plane by bomb and arson unit personnel that continued until 10:45 am.
In a separate incident, the search for a missing UK Navy crew member off the north-west coast of Ireland was called off. The Irish Coast Guard initiated a large-scale search after receiving a distress call from a UK naval support vessel, the RFA Tidesurge, when the crew member went missing around 10:30 pm on Friday. The search area was between Tory Island, Co Donegal, and Eagle Island, Co Mayo, with no additional information released about the crew member as their family has requested privacy.
Defence Secretary John Healey expressed deep sadness over the unsuccessful search for the missing crew member of RFA Tidesurge, extending sympathies to the family and crew members involved. He praised the swift response and dedicated efforts of the Irish authorities, RNLI, Royal Air Force, and Royal Navy during the search operation.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson confirmed the conclusion of the search for the missing crew member, stating that the family has been notified, an investigation is underway, and no other individuals have been harmed or reported missing in connection with the incident.