7,000 aircraft grounded in United States
The FBI ordered every airliner in the United States to be searched over the weekend following the discovery of three bags on two commercial jets.
In the biggest security scare since the 11 September attacks, bags containing metal box cutters, modelling clay and bleach were discovered, along with notes questioning the level of security on the nation’s commercial fleet. The items were found on two Southwest Airlines planes, which have now been grounded.
A spokesman for the carrier reportedly said that one small bag containing the box cutters “and other items intended to simulate a threat” had been found by maintenance staff during routine checks. He added: “A similar discovery was made in Houston last night on another aircraft during a scheduled maintenance inspection.”
The Daily Mail reports that one of the notes indicated that while the US Transportation Security Administration was doing a “good job”, it pointed out that the suspicious items had still found their way on to a plane.
The case has now been passed to the FBI and the US Department of Homeland Security.
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