Flyers step off plane at Burlington International Airport after authorities find ‘threatening note’
SOUTH BURLINGTON, VERMONT: The Burlington Police Department has called the Vermont State Police Bomb Squad to Burlington International Airport (BTV) as they investigate an unlawful threat made on board of a plane on Sunday, March 12, 2023. Emergency services arrived at Burlington Airport in response to allegations that passengers were asked to exit a plane after finding a threatening note.
K-9 units and first responders from many agencies, including the Vermont State Police Bomb Squad, would have initiated a Phase 5 response for an aircraft under duress. South Burlington Police Chief Shawn Burke said officers are currently responding to a plane under duress at the highest level, Phase 5, according to WPTZ. NBC5’s Alice Kang provided real-time updates via Twitter. The journalist has been stranded on her plane since arriving in Vermont while flying on a United Airlines route from Newark to Burlington.
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“People get frustrated”
Kang said that after the plane landed at Burlington Airport, she and the other passengers were stranded for about two hours. “People are frustrated. They want to know what’s going on. It’s been almost 2 hours since we landed,” Kang tweeted at 6:35 p.m.
6:35 p.m. – People are getting frustrated. They want to know what’s going on. It’s been almost 2 hours since we landed. The flight attendants told us to wait for law enforcement officers on the plane. We are not allowed to touch or take anything from the baggage bins. https://t.co/9JCkBR2UdN
— Alice Kang (@AliceMyNBC5) March 12, 2023
Kang added, “Flight attendants told us to wait for law enforcement officers on the plane. We are not allowed to touch or take anything from the overhead compartments.” She later tweeted that Vermont State Police and a K9 team had been called in to investigate after “a note containing a threat” was discovered.
6:54 just got off the flight. Everyone escorted to btv airport. we weren’t allowed to take anything other than the phone and ID card. Said we are getting an update. https://t.co/LCVGRq8Sfq
— Alice Kang (@AliceMyNBC5) March 12, 2023
“A note that there was a device on the plane was reported”
“We weren’t allowed to take anything other than phone and ID,” Kang tweeted after being escorted to BTV at 6:54 p.m. She tweeted at 7:08 p.m.: “A note that there was a device on the plane has been reported. .”
In his latest update, Kang wrote, “We were released but we weren’t allowed to take anything, so people are wondering how long it will be before they get their stuff back. Many people don’t have their car keys with them. them.”
7:20 p.m. we were released but we weren’t allowed to take anything so people are wondering how long it will be before they get their stuff back. Many people don’t have their car keys with them. @MyNBC5 https://t.co/icU2hChytI
— Alice Kang (@AliceMyNBC5) March 12, 2023
Employees were seen removing luggage from planes and spreading it out on the tarmac, according to WCAX. Incoming and outgoing flights from the airport have been halted. An ambulance and a huge fire truck were also spotted at the airport.
