US flights searched after weapons found
All commercial flights in America were being searched tonight after box cutters and other potential weapons were found concealed on two planes.
The box cutters – the weapon used by the September 11 hijackers – were found on the Southwest airliners in Houston and New Orleans.
Also discovered was a clay-like substance, bleach and a note questioning airline security, said a law enforcement source.
It is believed the potential weapons were hidden to highlight security lapses rather than to perpetrate a terror attack.
FBI spokeswoman Susan Whitson said an investigation was being carried out by some of its 84 joint terrorism task forces and the Department of Homeland Security.
Southwest Airlines said in a statement: “While performing maintenance on an aircraft lavatory in New Orleans last evening, several items were discovered in a lavatory compartment.
“The items, inside a small plastic bag, included a small number of box cutters and other items intended to simulate a threat.
“A similar discovery was made in Houston last night on another aircraft during a scheduled maintenance inspection.
“A note in both packages indicated the items were intended to challenge the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint security procedures.”
Southwest Airlines said it immediately inspected its entire fleet of 385 aircraft and there were no further suspicious finds.
It added: “We will not speculate on who might have left these items on board. We will co-operate with the federal authorities to investigate this thoroughly.”
The discovery prompted the Department of Homeland Security and the TSA to order all US commercial flights to be searched within 24 hours.
More than 7,000 aircraft were being searched, but despite the massive operation there were no reports of significant delays so far.
Homeland Security Department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said the searches were “a precautionary measure”.
It is understood the bleach was contained in suntan lotion bottles and the clay was inside Play-Doh containers.
The Houston flight took off from Austin, Texas, and the New Orleans flight originated in Orlando, Florida.
The concealment was thought to be the work of an individual rather than a group.
The discovery of box cutters revived memories of the September 11 attacks.
The 19 al Qaida operatives used the weapons to hijack the airliners which they later slammed into New York’s twin towers and the Pentagon in Washington.
The development comes a week after a US government warning was issued to law enforcement officials that terrorists could be poised for new attacks on America.
It said: “Recent multiple reports indicate terrorists may be poised to conduct simultaneous attacks in the near term against US interests in a number of venues overseas and possibly in the United States.”
