NYPD did not confirm the presence of an explosive device on board the aircraft after verification
According to TASS, Aeroflot’s SU102 Moscow – New York flight was delayed on Sunday upon arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport, and all passengers and their luggage were searched with dogs.
“They only kept an hour with something on the plane”, – she said. – “Then they were kicked out into the street. In the street they would break people into groups and check them with the dog. Then they put everyone in six buses with 50 people each”. “The buses were unloaded into the terminal one by one, so we had to stand in the bus for forty minutes more”, – said Anastasia Shevchenko, who arrived on this flight.
Earlier on Sunday Fox News reported that passengers on the Moscow – New York flight were evacuated at John F. Kennedy Airport due to the alleged threat of an explosive device on board. The channel added that the flight landed in New York at 15:49 US East Coast time.
The New York City and New Jersey Port Authority Police Unit later reported that NYPD, after checking, did not confirm the presence of an explosive device on board an Aeroflot aircraft that landed on Sunday at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
“The Port Authority Police received a report of a threat from Aeroflot Flight 102 mine-threatening. The plane landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport at approximately 3:46 p.m”, – the police said in a statement. – “After the passengers left the plane, police officers checked the plane without finding anything. The airport is open and several flights were detained in connection with the investigation [of the incident].”
Airport Twitter reports that the emergency precautions introduced earlier on Sunday in connection with the incident have now been cancelled. Additional security officers’ outfits have also left the airport.
The Russian Embassy in the USA is closely monitoring the detained Aeroflot aircraft at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and will provide consular assistance to Russian citizens if necessary.
“The Embassy of the Russian Federation in the USA is closely monitoring the situation with the detained Aeroflot aircraft at New York City Airport. If necessary, we will provide consular assistance to Russian citizens”, – said in a statement published on the website of the diplomatic mission on Sunday.