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FBI Looking Into Chemical Weapons Threat Against Planes

The threats were all deemed not credible.
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The FBI is looking into a series of threats phoned in Monday morning by a single person, claiming chemical weapons were aboard airplanes.

The threats are not deemed credible, but the information has been passed along to the airlines anyway, out of an abundance of caution.

The male caller made threats against at least 10 flights in a quick series of calls to local police around the country. All but three planes have landed with nothing of concern found.

Two military jets flew alongside an Air France flight into New York as a precaution, after U.S. officials had difficulty reaching Air France on what is Memorial Day in the U.S. and also a holiday in France — the day after Pentecost Sunday, otherwise known as Whit Sunday.

Two F-15s escorted the plane to John F. Kennedy International Airport, and a security crew swept the plane on the ground. The plane was cleared.

A Newark bureau spokeswoman for the FBI also confirmed that there were threats made against Delta Airlines Flight 69 from London's Heathrow and United Airlines Flight 37 from Edinburgh Airport in Scotland. The flights were cleared, officials said.

The FBI said in a statement that there were “no incidents or hazards” reported by passengers or crew on the plane, Flight 22 from Paris.

An Air France Flight was screened at JFK airport because of reports of a chemical threat on board, a source told NBC News.
An Air France Flight was screened at JFK airport because of reports of a chemical threat on board, a source told NBC News.NBC New York

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