A United Airlines flight from Rome to Chicago made an emergency landing in Ireland Monday after the discovery of a bomb threat, the airline said in a statement.
“United flight UA971 en route to Chicago from Rome, diverted to Shannon [Ireland] following a potential security concern. Additional security screenings will be performed on all customers and baggage, and we will work to get customers on their way to Chicago as quickly as possible,” a United spokesperson said, according to a report.
The bomb threat came in the form of a note left in one of the airplane bathrooms, the Irish Times reported.
An unspecified person found a note written on a lavatory toilet that stated a bomb was on board the Boeing 767-300. The flight staff declared a May Day around 12:45 p.m. and the jet was diverted to the closest airport.
The 214 passengers were not allowed off the plane until 40 minutes after the plane landed. Each person was required to submit a handwriting sample to investigators.
The passengers are being held at a local hotel near Shannon overnight. Local police have not stated who made the threat.
