F-15s scrambled, United flight to Geneva diverted to Boston over unclaimed camera

United Airlines Flight 956 taxis on the runway after being diverted to Boston's Logan International Airport, Aug. 1, 2012. / WBZ

(CBS/AP) BOSTON - Massachusetts state police say an unclaimed camera that led the crew of a United Airlines international flight to divert to Boston has been X-rayed and found to be safe.

State police spokesman David Procopio said at about 9:45 p.m. Tuesday that the passengers were taken off the plane during an inspection by bomb technicians at a remote area of Logan International Airport. He said the flight was resuming.

United spokesman Rahsaan Johnson said the crew decided to divert Flight 956, en route from Newark, N.J., to Geneva, Switzerland, after flight attendants found the camera in an unoccupied seat. Johnson said the Boeing 767 has 157 passengers and 11 crew members.

The Transportation Security Administration said the plane was diverted "out of an abundance of caution" and its officers also responded.

Capt. Ruth Castro, a spokesperson for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) confirmed to CBS News that two F-15 fighter jets were scrambled to intercept the flight at about 9:00 p.m. Eastern, shortly after it departed from Newark.

"The fighters were scrambled, then intercepted and shadowed the aircraft" before it landed safely at Logan, said Castro.

[topgun966]

You know what blows my mind? You people are amazing. No one can ever win. IF this was a real threat, and the plane crashed into something killing thousands of people, you would be screaming for blood. But they reacted to the way they should to put SAFETY first, and you still want blood. SHUT UP and be grateful someone actually wants to keep you safe. Just in my own opinion.

[commonSenc3]

GREAT JOB!!! Thank you for keeping our nation safe!

[Hutterite]

Acts of terror aren't the problem. Our response to them is.

[Lerianis4]

Over a ********* unclaimed camera? Give me a break here. This was total overreaction on the part of the authorities.

[Lerianis4]

Over a ********* unclaimed camera? Give me a break here. This was total overreaction on the part of the authorities.

[bbarnes5557]

Bunch of morons who would of thought that someone might leave a camera on a plane....

[phwtb100]

"...two F-15 fighter jets were scrambled to intercept the flight..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Wwwhhhyyyy??????

What were they going to do, shoot the plane down if the camera exploded?

I agree, ZionistCensorship. The "game" really is over.

[matt6052]

Why would they scramble jets if the crew decided to divert? A suspicious package or unattended camera is not an indicator of a hijacking risk.

[Well_You_Aint_Me]

Wondered the same.

Why not tell them to fly out over the ocean and turn camera on.

[topgun966]

Guess you forgot 9/11. This is EXACTLY how they got control of the planes. The fighters are there in case they lose contact/flight diverts from its plan. Yes, they would have shot it down.