Man Taken Into Custody After Apparent Bomb Scare on Airplane - East Idaho News
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Man Taken Into Custody After Apparent Bomb Scare on Airplane

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Getty N 111711 PlaneLanding?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1371304052883Comstock/Thinkstock(DENVER) — A man was taken into custody by the FBI on Friday night after an apparent bomb scare on a plane bound for Denver.

The pilot made an emergency landing at the Denver Airport at about 7:30 p.m. The plane was immediately moved to a remote area.

The flight, carrying 136 passengers and five crew members, took off from Knoxville, Tenn.

Nick Dannenberg, who was traveling on Frontier Airlines flight 601 told Good Morning America he was seated near the man who reportedly told the flight attendant he had brought a bomb on board.

“The guy across the aisle from me pulled the flight attendant to the side and told her that he had a bomb in his backpack,” Dannenberg said. “I can’t even describe how fast my heart was beating.”

The flight crew took the man’s backpack to the back of the plane when they became aware of the potential safety risk, as passengers kept an eye on the passenger until the flight landed safely in Denver.

Meanwhile, children on board the flight were sent to the front of the plane for security purposes. There were three unaccompanied minors on the plane who were moved away from the potential bomb, law enforcement officials told ABC News.

Once grounded, authorities handcuffed and removed the man from the flight.

Passengers then left the aircraft, where they were met by the FBI and the Denver bomb squad on the tarmac.

All of the passengers were interviewed by law enforcement overnight.

The FBI would not comment as to whether or not an explosive device was recovered from the carry on.

Officials have not released the man’s name.

There has been no decision on whether or not to prosecute the man. That decision will likely be made on Monday, law enforcement officials said. A law enforcement official briefed on the case says that the man is believed to be mentally unstable.

Copyright 2013 ABC News RadioCopyright 2013 ABC News Radio

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