An American Airlines flight carrying 179 people from Manchester, England, to Chicago was diverted to Bangor, Maine, on Friday because of security concerns.
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration said it learned of "a reported threat to the aircraft while it was en route." The plane landed safely and all passengers left the plane.
Richard Hedges, an American Airlines spokesman in London, said American Airlines flight 55 from Manchester to Chicago was diverted to Bangor due to a possible security concern.
US Airways Flight 146 from Phoenix to Charlotte on Friday was diverted to Oklahoma City after a passenger had a confrontation with a flight attendant, the airline said.
"We're not taking any chances," said Valerie Wunder, a spokeswoman for US Airways. "We'd rather have the pilot or the air marshal make a call" to divert a flight than have an incident with broader implications.
In a statement the Air Transport Association said: "Decisions to divert aircraft for security reasons are made for a wide variety of reasons. While the reasons for these decisions will vary, the common factor is the overarching importance of assuring the safety of our passengers and crews."Reuters.com
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