IMAGINE boarding a plane on September 11 and hearing the captain announce that your flight was being turned around because of “security concerns”.
That’s what happened to the passengers on United Airlines flight 902 yesterday, after a bomb threat forced their San Francisco-bound airplane to ground shortly after taking off from Frankfurt airport.
It’s a sombre reminder that almost a decade and a half after the attacks that stunned the world, the threat of terrorism is as real as ever.
German federal police said that all passengers were searched, along with their luggage, but no explosives were found. “Police received a threat notice warning of a bomb attack,” said spokesman Christian Altenhofen. “We ordered the plane back to Frankfurt, where it landed safely... It was a very specific threat and you have to keep in mind the date — it made us take the threat seriously.” Nobody was detained in the incident.
Passenger Rob Tobias said the captain’s announcement came just 15 minutes into the flight that it was turning around because of security concerns.
“Everyone calm and Frankfurt police and fire professional,” he said in a message on Twitter. On the ground, “all passengers and their luggage screened and swabbed for explosives. Also frisked. Passports also closely checked.”
Mr Altenhofen said the flight had been cancelled by the airline and rescheduled for Saturday. Police were continuing to investigate the source of the threat, which was sent by email, he said.
The incident came as United States citizens marked the 14th anniversary of 9/11 with commemeration ceremonies across the nation.
At the Pentagon in Washington, DC, a giant American flag was unfurled at the spot where one of the attacking planes had crashed into the building.
The flag was placed on the building at sunrise, ahead of public and private ceremonies to mark the anniversary.
President Barack Obama and wife Michelle emerged from the White House at 8.46am, as a bell chimed three times to mark the moment when Flight 11, piloted by al-Qaeda operatives, careened into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York.
The first couple stood solemnly beneath a US flag at half-staff, bowed their heads and marked a moment of silence.
President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, and others observe a moment of silence to mark the 14th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Source: AP
Crystalline blue skies and the hum of jet planes landing and taking off at nearby National Airport evoked that day of tragedy.
The first couple were flanked by White House chefs, gardeners and housekeepers, as well as national security staff tasked with ensuring such an attack never happens again on American soil.
Nearly 3000 people died on September 11, 2001 at Ground Zero in New York, at the Pentagon and aboard a hijacked airliner that went down in rural Pennsylvania.
“We honour those we lost. We salute all who serve to keep us safe. We stand as strong as ever,” Obama later said in a post to social media.
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