Sep 11, 2006 11:32 am US/Eastern
United Flight Diverted To Dallas
DALLAS (CBS) ―
A United Airlines flight from Atlanta to San Francisco was diverted to Dallas on Monday morning as a security precaution.
A United Airlines spokeswoman and federal officials say the jet was diverted after an unclaimed BlackBerry device was found on board.
Before the flight left Atlanta, according to the Transportation Security Administration, officials had found and removed an unidentified backpack on the plane.
When the BlackBerry was found, officials decided that the earlier discovery of the backpack combined with the discovery of the BlackBerry warranted diverting the plane.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport officials say after the plane landed at approximately 8:35 a.m. ET, a passenger claimed the backpack.
United Airlines Flight 351 is an Airbus 319 carrying 55 passengers.
At about 9:45 a.m. ET, according to DFW Airport fire officials, the jet was cleared to resume its flight to San Francisco. Officials with United Airlines said that the passengers were rescreened.
A TSA spokeswoman described the jet as "secure," and said it was diverted "out of an abundance of caution."
(© 2006 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
