Posted on 9:18 AM

United Flight 663 - News update

Filed Under (,,) By MSWEBSOLUTION at 9:18 AM

Flight 663 - New updates from different news Sources.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A United Airlines domestic flight landed safely in Denver on Wednesday after a disturbance on board by a passenger, but officials said the incident did not appear to be a serious security threat.

"It looks like the individual in question was perhaps smoking in the lavatory and might have made an unfortunate remark" once confronted by airline personnel, a U.S. official said.

United Flight 663, which originated from Washington's Reagan National Airport, arrived at about 9 p.m. EDT after two F-16 fighter jets were scrambled to intercept the Boeing 757 aircraft, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command which is responsible for safeguarding U.S. airspace.

ABC News, citing federal law enforcement officials, had reported earlier that U.S. air marshals subdued a Qatari man who authorities say tried to "light his shoes on fire" on the flight.

CNN said the man identified as a mid-level Qatari diplomat, when asked why he was in the toilet so long, "said something about lighting his shoe on fire."

The plane was surrounded by security vehicles at Denver International Airport.

Nytimes.com: United released a statement saying it had alerted federal authorities to the incident.

“Following an incident involving a passenger, the crew of United flight 663 asked that the plane be met by law enforcement officials after landing safely at DIA at 7 p.m. local time,” the statement said. “We are cooperating fully with the investigation. The Boeing 757 had 157 passengers and six crew.”

The incident comes just four months after a Nigerian man with terrorist ties sneaked an explosive onto a trans-Atlantic flight and tried to ignite as the plane prepared to land in Detroit.

The U.S. military’s Northern Command, John Cornelio said jets from Buckley Air Force Base escorted the plane to Denver.

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