Asia-Pacific

FBI: Thai flight lands in LA after bomb threat

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-09-08 16:03

LOS ANGELES -- A Thai Airways flight from Bangkok landed safely at Los Angeles International Airport Tuesday evening after a bomb threat written in poorly worded English was spotted on a bathroom mirror on the plane, authorities said.

Airport officials were notified at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday (0215 GMT Wednesday) of the alleged threat to Los Angeles-bound Flight 794, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said.

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The plane landed safely just before 9 p.m. (0400 GMT) and was taken to a remote area of the airport, where passengers exited the plane.

Thai Airways president Piyasvasti Amranand told The Associated Press that the message -- written in English with bad grammar -- warned that a bomb was on the plane.

"This must have caused some nuisance to the passengers," he said by phone from Singapore. "It sounds like it was done by a crazy person."

Eimiller said there were about 200 passengers and crew on board.

Luggage on the plane was to be screened and the passengers and crew were being interviewed by law enforcement officers, she said.

The Los Angeles Fire Department said there were 18 fire trucks and fire engines on standby when the plane landed.