Pax Searched, Plane Allowed To Depart Two Hours Later

A very specific bomb threat, one authorities initially believed came from a passenger onboard the plane, grounded an American Eagle regional flight for two hours Friday morning.

The Associated Press reports authorities received a 911 call from a cell phone with details about the specific plane involved, as well as other information that led them to take the threat against flight 4359, from Toledo, OH to Chicago, seriously.

The Embraer 135 had just pulled away from the gate and preparing to takeoff, said American Eagle spokeswoman Andrea Huguely, when authorities halted the flight. The plane then taxied to an isolated area of the airport. 

The 33 passengers and crew onboard were pulled from the plane and interviewed, while luggage was rescreened. Authorities investigated the possibility the threat had come from onboard the airliner, but that was later discounted.

About two hours after the threat was called in, the plane was allowed to depart for Chicago. All but one passenger opted to stay on the flight, American Eagle said.

"There was a round of applause when we got off the ground," said passenger Sean Walker to the AP. He added the pilot initially told passengers the flight was on ground hold due to weather in Chicago.

FBI officials and the bomb squad boarded the plane a short time later.

FMI: www.aa.com, Go to the FBI website