delta_ap.JPG
"We have a report of an issue on an inbound Delta flight," a Port of Portland spokeswoman said Saturday.
(AP photo)
UPDATE Sunday, July 24: A Port of Portland spokeswoman said the port has no new information to share, and it is turning the investigation over to the FBI.
A Compass Airlines flight from Seattle to San Diego landed in Portland on Saturday morning facing an unspecified and unverified threat. Police and firefighters responded.
The flight diverted to Portland "out of an abundance of caution as a result of a security concern," Compass said in a written statement. The airline said the flight carried 58 passengers and four crew on an Embraer 175 aircraft.
Compass flight 5733 landed at Portland International Airport around 9:30 a.m., according to the airline. Initial reports from the Port of Portland indicated it was a Delta Air Lines flight -- Compass said it's actually a Delta Connection flight.
Online flight trackers indicate the flight had nearly reached the California border on its flight from Seattle before turning around and flying to Portland. FlightAware indicates the flight left Portland, again en route to San Diego, at 12:44 p.m.
"The passengers are now off the plane," said Melanie Mesaros, spokeswoman for the Port of Portland, which operates Portland International Airport. She said two runways are closed but that's not affecting other flights.
Neither the airline nor the airport offered any details on the kind of security threat the aircraft faced.
"They're actively investigating right now," Mesaros said.
This article has been updated with more details on the flight.
-- Mike Rogoway
mrogoway@oregonian.com
503-294-7699
@rogoway