The FBI, along with the Londonderry Police, has launched an investigation into a bomb threat against Spirit Airlines flight 2025 that was made at Manchester Boston Regional Airport (MHT) on February 11, 2023, according to a report by WMUR-TV.
The bomb threat
Spirit Airlines flight 2025, operating an Airbus A321, registered as N682NK, was preparing to depart for Tampa International Airport (TPA), Florida, when the airport’s communication center received a call indicating a potential bomb threat against the flight, according to Flightradar24.com data.
Shortly after the threat, the flight was evacuated and searched by the authorities, including the state police, the FBI, and other explosive device experts, who later confirmed that there was no threat.
Reacting to the situation, the MHT airport shared an update on its official Twitter account,
Our teams and law enforcement partners are investigating a security threat at MHT. All passengers are exiting the secure area and will be rescreened through TSA before returning to their gates. This is an ongoing situation. We will continue to update as info becomes available. — Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (@flymanchester) February 11, 2023
According to the airport, all the passengers’ luggage and checked luggage had to be rescreened before clearing the flight. Soon after the flight was cleared, the airport resumed its normal operations, and no one reported any injuries during this incident.
From the TSA: Spirit Airlines received a bomb threat. Inbound passengers on two flights were deplaned and cleared from the sterile area. K-9’s completed a sweep of the sterile area with negative results. Passengers are being rescreened and normal operations are resuming. #wmur — WMUR TV (@WMUR9) February 11, 2023
Not the first instance this year
This was not the first incident of its kind this year in the US. On January 25, 2023, Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) partially evacuated after one of the Frontier Airlines passengers made a bomb threat.
An individual on the plane taking off from Palm Beach for Philadelphia made a remark concerning an explosive, leading to the evacuation of passengers from Concourse C at PBI airport.
After conducting a thorough search, this was proved to be a false threat. The ongoing disruption was minimal, however, and there were zero cancelations due to the incident.
Meanwhile, on February 4, 2023, an irate passenger wanting to travel from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Pensacola International Airport (PNS) with Spirit Airlines, made a bomb threat. All passengers were deplaned while the aircraft was thoroughly inspected, including checking over all checked luggage. The bomb scare was proved to be false.
Although the bomb threats, though happen from time to time, are never taken lightly by airport personnel due to their immense potential to disrupt airport and flight safety.
Source: simpleflying.com