Bomb Scare Diverts Plane to Philly

(CBS)  Last updated: 12:03 p.m. EST

A flight from New York's La Guardia Airport was diverted to Philadelphia after a bomb scare Thursday morning, CBS station KYW reports.

CBS News reports the passenger who aroused suspicion was a 17-year-old boy who was traveling with his teenage sister. The passenger is a U.S. citizen. He was questioned by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and was not charged.

KYW reports that US Air flight 3079 from LaGuardia to Louisville was diverted to Philadelpia after a the passenger removed a "tefillin," a religious item used by observant Jewish men during weekday morning prayers,
after takeoff.

The removal of the tefellin prompted a bomb scare aboard the plane.

The flight will continue to its original destination, and the passenger involved in the incident is being permitted to continue on the flight.

Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Joe Sullivan said the passenger was "completely cooperative." After being removed from the plane, the teen explained it was a religious device and officers determined it was "harmless" and was of no threat, KYW reports.

The TSA said officials searched the plane, with negative findings.

A tefillin, also called phylacteries, has two small, black leather boxes, containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with Biblical verses, with black straps attached to them. One box is placed on the head and the other is tied to the arm.

The commuter plane that normally seats 50 passengers is operated by Chautauqua Airlines and flies under the US Airways name. The plane departed LaGuardia at 7:25 a.m. and landed in Philadelphia at about 8:50 a.m. surrounded by Homeland Security and Philadelphia Police Bomb Squad.

[sdh26234]

As long as America as a nation, actually as a brutal Militaristic Empire messess around all over the world with its evermore inhumane and horrendous war machinery while completely neglecting the homeland, this is the sure way of self-destruction. History says so! I am only reminding the readers of such. Besides, the Founding Fathers are actually the best witness of such, in as much as they demolished the British brutal Empire and let it be known to future American generations to never ever think of becoming an Empire.
"Overgrown military establishments are under any form of government inauspicious to liberty and are to be regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty". By George Washington. The Founding Fathers are weeping bitterly in their graves seeing America heading for self-destruction. Yes, the evils of Socialism/Communism plus Imperialism are to America what in real life termites are to a wooden structure, with in neither case, the inhabitants therein not at all aware of such impending destruction. I rest my case hoping for better, however the chance for such, are getting slimer and slimer, right?

[MLGCTAtty]

It is incomprehensible that an major US airline and TSA don't know that Orthodox Jews frequently say their morning prayers while in flight, wearing tefillin. This flight originated out of White Plains, NY, not out of some place where Jewish ritual practices are uncommon. What kind of training to these people receive?

[Justice4us]

There are no buckles on the straps at all they are just plain strips of leather. I don't believe he would have been praying out loud either.

[ladyofargonne]

Ignorance and hysteria. OURS. Terrorists' best weapons.

Now we know we are safe from 8 year old boys, guys kissing their girlfriends and Orthodox Jews. In the meantime, the enemy makes note of every misstep as a teachable moment.

[bigfatnobody13]

I think the biggest problem lies not within an average Joe who cant tell a tefillin from a box of chocolate from a bomb, but in those ignorant plane attendants who only created a bigger panic and embarrassment for a yound man. If you choose to work in the field where you come accross many cultures and religions have enough consideration to educate yourself on other culture's attires (be so religious or not). I don't blame the idiot who started the panic for he is only as ignorant as 99% of us, but the crew who took it all to the level of ridicule.

[lilbear925]

Instead of sensors that DETECT explosive devices, require everyone to pass through sensors that DETONATE explosives. That would surely keep explosives off aircraft. What other kind of paranoia will the TSA generate by their uneducated and misinformed procedures?

[thesevenveils]

Any time someone starts praying aloud on an airplane is reason for concern. It's be easy to assume these were the last prayers or maybe this praying person knew something bad was about to happen or maybe just scared of flying.

[texanforlogi]

Press charges against that ignorant (and complaining passenger). How much time and money were wasted because the complainer/worrier is too ignorant to be allowed out of the house by themselves? Thinking a Jewish teenager is a radical terrorist? Too stupid to be believed!

[jsf14]

"by I_am_me1953 January 21, 2010 12:07 PM EST
I have a better idea, ban all carry-on luggage. " You really want to put your wallet and your medications in checked luggage?

[nomealaska]

The Government has a history of knee-jerk reactions to things that ultimately have no basis. Example: The "14-oz" rule at the Post Office resulted from a fuel tank spark (design problem) aboard Flight 800 that crashed off of Long Island - but the rule still exists. After the show bomber, I didn't take my shoes off for at least 2 years, as TSA would just give me a secondary screening instead. Then for no reason, it became mandatory. The last few TSA lapses have resulted in more random silliness, even though the most likely source of a bomb on a plane comes from TSA "sneaking" one through security as a test. We should have sent the Peace Corps instead of the military, as this should have been a mission to change minds - not make the enemy stronger.