FBI: No explosives on plane with cargo from Yemen at JFK

(AP) - A commercial passenger jet carrying cargo fromYemen landed in New York under military fighter-jet escort and itscargo was searched Friday, as parcels in transit across the globewere scrutinized

News 12 Staff

May 22, 2014, 7:25 PM

Updated 3,626 days ago

Share:

FBI: No explosives on plane with cargo from Yemen at JFK
(AP) - A commercial passenger jet carrying cargo fromYemen landed in New York under military fighter-jet escort and itscargo was searched Friday, as parcels in transit across the globewere scrutinized after authorities overseas found two explosivepackages from Yemen bound for Chicago.
No explosives were found aboard Emirates Airlines Flight 201after a search, FBI spokesman Richard Kolko said. He said the planeflew in to John F. Kennedy Airport under escort as a precaution.
President Barack Obama called the coordinated attacks a"credible terrorist threat." Packages were found aboard cargoplanes in Dubai and England and U.S. officials said they wereincreasingly confident that al-Qaida's Yemen branch wasresponsible.
The Emirates Airlines plane, a Boeing 777, landed shortly after3:30 p.m. Passengers walked off the jet on two covered stairwaysand onto the tarmac, dragging their luggage behind them. Severalpolice cars surrounded the airliner.
The flight crew didn't mention any issue with cargo, passengerssaid. They were told there was a heightened security concern andthat their bags would be searched but weren't told why. They alsodidn't know about the interest in their aircraft until they saw iton TV screens in the airport and glimpsed the mob of waitingreporters.
"We saw a lot of police and they instructed us that we would begetting on a bus. And that all our luggage would again bescreened," said Nick Chan, 32, who was returning to Manhattan froma business trip.
David Packles, a 23-year-old financial analyst returning from avacation to Thailand, said he hadn't noticed fighter jets tailingthe plane and didn't think the 20 extra minutes they spent on thetarmac was that unusual.
"It's a 14-hour flight. Everyone was just kind of exhausted,"he said.
Emirates said in a brief statement that it was "cooperatingfully with the U.S. authorities" and would provide moreinformation as soon as it was available.
U.S. fighter jets routinely escort airliners when there may be aproblem in order to observe the aircraft and be prepared to takeany action if necessary.
John Cornelia, a spokesman for U.S. North American AerospaceDefense Command, said the Emirates airliner was escorted by aCanadian fighter based in Bagotville, Quebec, to the U.S. border,where two U.S. fighters from the Barnes Air National Guard Base inMassachusetts took over.Go to iO Extra on Channel 612 to watch Chopper 12 footage of the fighter-jet escort at John F. Kennedy International Airport.Terror plot thwarted as U.S.-bound explosives seized


More from News 12
2:24
Movie theater experience: A close look at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville

Movie theater experience: A close look at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville

2:21
Chilly temps in the Hudson Valley will warm up as afternoon sunshine rolls in

Chilly temps in the Hudson Valley will warm up as afternoon sunshine rolls in

1:23
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators rally in Irvington during President Biden's visits to Westchester

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators rally in Irvington during President Biden's visits to Westchester

2:16
New Rochelle teacher receives birthday surprise from students, colleagues

New Rochelle teacher receives birthday surprise from students, colleagues

0:26
Hudson Valley communities receive bronze Climate Smart Certification

Hudson Valley communities receive bronze Climate Smart Certification

0:23
Rockland County sues New York state over when elections can be held

Rockland County sues New York state over when elections can be held

0:21
Greenwood Lake Board of Trustees appoints interim mayor

Greenwood Lake Board of Trustees appoints interim mayor

0:23
Police: 18-year-old facing charges in Walden shooting

Police: 18-year-old facing charges in Walden shooting

0:48
President Biden announces future opening of upstate microchip factory

President Biden announces future opening of upstate microchip factory

1:53
Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

0:21
Rockland County DA: Haverstraw man pleads guilty in sexual abuse of 2 children

Rockland County DA: Haverstraw man pleads guilty in sexual abuse of 2 children

0:51
Indian Point oversight board, Holtec discuss decommissioning options of former nuclear plant

Indian Point oversight board, Holtec discuss decommissioning options of former nuclear plant

0:47
State police: DNA sample from human remains found does not match profile of missing Putnam teen

State police: DNA sample from human remains found does not match profile of missing Putnam teen

0:31
New mural of Yonkers hip-hop legend Mary J. Blige unveiled at Palisade Towers

New mural of Yonkers hip-hop legend Mary J. Blige unveiled at Palisade Towers

0:35
Police find evidence in burglary while investigating a domestic dispute in Monroe

Police find evidence in burglary while investigating a domestic dispute in Monroe

0:30
Wake services held for the Westchester correction officer who died in Bronx River Parkway crash

Wake services held for the Westchester correction officer who died in Bronx River Parkway crash

Motorists encounter traffic delays, road closures in and around Irvington during President Joe Biden's visit

Motorists encounter traffic delays, road closures in and around Irvington during President Joe Biden's visit

1:42
Newburgh senior housing manager asks city for help protecting residents

Newburgh senior housing manager asks city for help protecting residents

0:25
Dramatic video captures car fire in Nanuet

Dramatic video captures car fire in Nanuet

0:24
New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial

New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial