AUSTIN (KXAN) — An American Airlines flight bound for Charlotte, North Carolina at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport had a delayed takeoff on Friday due to suspicious activity, according to the Austin Police Department.
The flight was delayed after the airline crew alerted APD and the Department of Aviation of an issue regarding the name of a WiFi hotspot involving the word “bomb.”
After returning to the airport gate, APD said it swept the aircraft and luggage for explosives. All passengers were then taken off the plane and re-screened by the Transportation Security Administration before being allowed to board again.
Authorities said the flight departed at around 6:15 p.m. APD said the incident did not significantly impact airport operations and did not affect airline operations other than the flight that had a delayed takeoff.
An American Airlines spokesperson said the threat was “not credible.”
“What I can tell you is that we and our partners take bomb threats very seriously. As a result of the issue, all travelers and their baggage were rescreened,” TSA said in a statement.
