Plane cleared after bomb scare at Sea-Tac
SEATAC, Wash. -- Police have cleared a plane that was isolated at Sea-Tac Airport because of what officials called "unclaimed object" on board.
Airport spokeswoman Terri-Ann Betancourt said the suspicious object was found not to be a threat but appeared to be a cell phone that was tampered with.
Jorge Lopez, a passenger, who first spotted the object.
"I was sleeping and there were these two girls right by me," he said. "I stepped on it (the cell phone) and I asked her (one of the girls) if it was hers. She said no and I picked it up," he said.
Lopez then alerted flight attendants. The plane was evacuated and a bomb squad boarded the plane to examine the suspicious object.
Airport spokesman Perry Cooper said even though the reason behind the alarm and hours of delay turned out to be a cell phone, all precautions that were taken were necessary.
"This is the type of security world that we live in. We'd rather have a delay of a few passengers at this point and make sure that we're correct," he said.
Alaska Airlines Airline spokeswoman Caroline Boren said flight 383 from San Jose landed about 11:40 a.m. and was checked out by Port of Seattle police and the FBI.
The Boeing 737 was moved off the runway after it landed and the passengers were evacuated.
Airport spokeswoman Terri-Ann Betancourt said the suspicious object was found not to be a threat but appeared to be a cell phone that was tampered with.
Jorge Lopez, a passenger, who first spotted the object.
"I was sleeping and there were these two girls right by me," he said. "I stepped on it (the cell phone) and I asked her (one of the girls) if it was hers. She said no and I picked it up," he said.
Lopez then alerted flight attendants. The plane was evacuated and a bomb squad boarded the plane to examine the suspicious object.
Airport spokesman Perry Cooper said even though the reason behind the alarm and hours of delay turned out to be a cell phone, all precautions that were taken were necessary.
"This is the type of security world that we live in. We'd rather have a delay of a few passengers at this point and make sure that we're correct," he said.
Alaska Airlines Airline spokeswoman Caroline Boren said flight 383 from San Jose landed about 11:40 a.m. and was checked out by Port of Seattle police and the FBI.
The Boeing 737 was moved off the runway after it landed and the passengers were evacuated.