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Two Air France flights diverted after 'security incident'

November 18, 2015

Two separate Air France flights bound for Paris have been diverted, due to a "security incident." The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said both planes have landed and all passengers have disembarked.

https://p.dw.com/p/1H7XF
Air France passenger plane
Image: picture-alliance/abaca/E. de Malglaive

In a brief statement released early on Wednesday, Air France confirmed that both flights had been the "subjects of anonymous threats received after their respective take-offs."

"As a precautionary measure and to conduct all necessary security checks, Air France, applying the safety regulations in force, decided to request the landings of both aircraft," the airline said.

According to Air France, local authorities carried out complete inspections of both aircraft, as well as the passengers and luggage.

"An investigation will be led by the authorities to identify the source of the telephone call," the statement added.

Diversions to US and Canada

A spokesman for Halifax International Airport in Nova Scotia, on Canada's eastern coast, said a Boeing 777 travelling from Washington was diverted to Halifax at 10:15 p.m. local time on Tuesday (0215 UTC, Wednesday). All 262 people on board the flight safely disembarked.

An Airbus A-380 that had been en route from Los Angeles and was also diverted to Salt Lake City in the Western US state of Utah.

ksb/bw (Reuters, AFP)