Bomb threat called in to Delta flights heading to, from Tel Aviv

Marcy Oster

(JTA) — Two Delta Air Lines flights arriving at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, one continuing to and one arriving from Tel Aviv, were evacuated following a bomb threat.

An anonymous caller to another unnamed airline reported Monday evening that a pipe bomb had been placed aboard Delta’s flight 468, according to reports. The airline has two flights with the same number.

One of the flights, a Boeing 777, was waiting to depart from JFK NY at 9:23 p.m. when the call came in. The passengers were evacuated from the plane and waited on buses on the tarmac while security officials searched the plane. The luggage also was removed and rescreened. No explosives were found on board.

The second flight, a Boeing 757, arrived at the airport from San Francisco at 8 p.m., and was scheduled to continue on to Tel Aviv. After the passengers disembarked from the plane, it was searched. No explosives were found.

Delta said in a statement released Monday night: “Proper security procedures are being followed for both aircraft. Delta has passed this information on to federal authorities.”