PHILADELPHIA -
Audio communications from emergency responders to Philadelphia International Airport's ground control indicate the response to Thursday's scare on a plane was for a suspected explosive device onboard.
US Airways Flight 1267 took off at 8:06 a.m. but was ordered to turn back about 15 minutes later due to a threat that was phoned in, and the plane landed around 8:44 a.m.
The transmissions from a fire department shift commander to ground control after the plane turned back were captured by the website LiveATC.com.
Philadelphia Fire Dept.'s engine 78 and medic 30, which are stationed at the airport, were among the units called out.
Fire official: "Philly ground, Foxtrot 21"
Ground control: "Foxtrot 21, Philly ground"
Fire official: "Yeah, Engine 78 and Medic 30 … are responding to an alert 1 for a code 89, an aircraft that's returning to the airfield and will be directed to hotel, the uh, isolation area."
Ground control: "Foxtrot 21, I understand why you're coming out. Say again the last part?"
Fire official: "My understanding is this aircraft is going to be placed in the isolation area, the hotel."
Ground control: "You keep cutting off at the end."
Fire official: "Engine 78 and Medic 30 … are going to have to locate to the hotel isolation area."
Ground control: "Foxtrot 21, roger."
According to the FAA, an "alert 1" indicates an aircraft approaching the airport is in "minor difficulty."
A "code 89" is typically for a suspected explosive device or bomb threat on board an inbound passenger jet.
Standardized aviation delay codes say "89" can also more generally mean "restrictions at airport of departure, airport/runway closed due obstruction, industrial action, staff shortage, political unrest, noise abatement, night curfew, special flights, start-up and pushback."
A police investigation revealed that there was no real threat to the plane and no explosives onboard.
The passenger who was identified by the caller was questioned, released and placed on a new flight, police said.
Later on Thursday morning, authorities were questioning a person suspected of making the threat call.
