Bomb Threat Called in From Plane in Ohio

[TalonRider]

Bomb Threat Called in From Plane in Ohio

By JOHN SEEWER, Associated Press Writer

TOLEDO, Ohio - A commuter plane preparing for takeoff with 33 people aboard was isolated on a runway Friday morning after a passenger reported a bomb threat, officials said.

Authorities had not verified whether there was a bomb aboard the American Eagle plane, said FBI spokesman Scott Wilson.

Fire trucks and emergency vehicles began to approach the area after the plane _ with all its passengers still aboard _ had sat on the runway for about an hour. Buses also were being brought in.

The 911 call came in from a passenger's cell phone about 10:30 a.m., acting Deputy Fire Chief Greg Locher said. He did not say whether the caller found out about the threat or was the one making the threat.

The plane had pushed away from the terminal and was getting ready to take off for Chicago when officials found about the call, said Andrea Huguely, spokeswoman with American Eagle, an American Airlines regional carrier. Thirty passengers and three crew members were on board; no injuries were reported, she said.

Local law enforcement and the FBI asked that the plane be prevented from taking off, Huguely said.

She said the crew is cooperating with law enforcement, but she did not have details about how they were communicating or what was going on inside the plane.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it was aware of the situation but had no information. The Transportation Security Administration did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press.