A threat against a Paris-bound Air France flight caused it to be diverted to Salt Lake City tonight after taking off from Los Angeles International Airport, a Federal Aviation Administration official said.
Air France Flight 65, an Airbus A-380 that took off from Los Angeles International Airport at 4:04 p.m., landed at Salt Lake City International Airport at 7:11 p.m., according to the FAA’s Allen Kenitzer and the FlightAware website.
Someone called in a threat against the flight, as well as Paris-bound Air France Flight 55 from Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D.C. Flight 55 was diverted to Halifax, Nova Scotia, according to Air France.
Both flights landed safely, the airline reported.
FBI Special Agent Todd Palmer of the bureau’s Salt Lake City field office said late tonight no evidence had been found that led credibility to the threat against Flight 65.
Passengers on the LAX flight were deplaned and bused to a terminal, Kenitzer said.
The Airbus A-380 was over Idaho when it turned southeast toward Salt Lake City, according to FlightAware.
It had been due to land at Charles de Gaulle/Roissy Airport at 11:45 a.m. Paris time, according to the website, which showed that it was scheduled to leave Salt Lake City at 12:11 a.m. and land at Charles de Gaulle at 5:09 p.m. Paris time.
“As a precautionary measure and to conduct all necessary security checks, Air France, applying the safety regulations in force, decided to request the landings of both aircraft,” according to the airline, which reported the threats to both planes were received after they took off.
Local authorities were inspecting the planes, the passengers and their luggage, according to Air France.
“An investigation will be led by the authorities to identify the source of the telephone call,” according to the airline’s statement.
The caller made bomb threats against both flights, according to CNN.
