Threat on aircraft temporarily closes Spokane airport

Airport police have one person in custody after an Alaska Airlines flight en route from Atlanta to Seattle was diverted to Spokane International Airport following a security incident onboard the aircraft.

“A male guest made a direct threat to the safety of our aircraft to one of our flight attendants,” said a statement from Alaska Airlines.

Spokane and Seattle media outlets reported it was a bomb threat.

The plane landed safely at 5:15 p.m. said an airport news release. The passengers and flight crew were safely deplaned.

All flight activity was temporarily suspended as the airport exercised its emergency plan in coordination with its partners from the city of Spokane police and fire departments, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, FBI and the Transportation Security Administration.

The airport reopened aviation operations at 6:45 p.m.

There were 177 passengers and six crew members on board.