(Trinidad Express) The American Airline flight, which returned to Piarco International Airport this morning due to a security alert, was cleared and departed for Miami, Florida around 11a.m.
The Express was told that passengers and luggage were removed, allowing security personnel to search the aircraft.
Nothing suspicious was found on board the aircraft and the flight was allowed to depart.
The crew was instructed to return to Piarco International Airport this morning, following reports that there was a “strange” package on board the flight.
The American Airline flight was grounded and passengers were advised to disembark the aircraft, said Caribbean Airline chairman Rabindra Moonan.
“The flight had just taken off when the airport security received an anonymous call that there was a package on board that should not be there. As a measure of precaution, a message was sent to the crew to return to the gate. The passengers were removed from the aircraft to allow security checks,” he said.
The flight departed to Miami, Florida at 7a.m.
An Airport Authority official said, “The passengers and bags were removed from the aircraft. Security and police searched the plane for several hours. About an hour ago the flight was given the all clear to depart. Passengers returned to the aircraft and it left”.
In a media release , the Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago stated “Please be advised that on Thursday April 18th 2013, at 6:55 a.m. American Airlines flight no. 2282 destined to Miami was taxiing at the Piarco International Airport when the Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago ’s Security Department received a phone call about a security issue aboard the aircraft. As a result, AATT security procedures were immediately activated. The aircraft returned to the ramp and passengers were deplaned.
The Authority’s Security Department, Trinidad and Tobago Police Service along with American Airlines Security conducted relevant checks. The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service gave clearance for the flight to depart assuring that the aircraft was secure. The American Airlines flight departed the Piarco International Airport at 11:37 a.m”.
