Anonymous Phone Tip Led To Suspicion Of A Hijacker On Board

NORAD said in a statement that it had intercepted an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 last Thursday and escorted it to Seattle International Airport following an anonymous tip that there might be a hijacker on board.

The FBI office in Honolulu, where the flight originated, said that the caller had identified the potential hijacker on board Alaska Airlines Flight 819 last Thursday by name. The flight landed without incident in Seattle, and the man was detained for questioning by authorities. It was not known how long he remained in custody, according to the French news service AFP.

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) said in a statement that it recognizes the professionalism of the Flight Attendants on Alaska Airlines flight 819 after being alerted to a suspicious person on board as fighter jets escorted the aircraft safely to Seattle.

"The flight attendants on board flight 819 demonstrated professionalism and composure despite irregular events. These two qualities are vital for flight attendants who are the first responders for in-flight emergencies of all kinds. These AFA flight attendants took immediate action and performed their role flawlessly. Through preparedness and vigilance, the flight attendants helped to ensure that all passengers on board flight 819 arrived safely and without disruption. We applaud our colleagues for their teamwork and for providing a shining example of the role of flight attendants as the last line of defense," said Jeffrey Peterson, AFA President at Alaska Airlines.

FMI: www.norad.mil, www.afacwa.org