Spirit Airlines confirmed that an early morning flight from Baltimore to Chicago was halted just before take-off and that four passengers were removed of an “abundance of caution”.
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Spirit Airlines flight 969 was scheduled to take off at 6 a.m., but when the plane was taxiing to the runway, the flight was ordered back to the gate, according to Maryland Transportation Authority Police. Initial checks of the three men and a woman and their baggage found nothing suspicious, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. After a security check was completed, the flight departed for O’Hare worldwide Airport around 9 a.m. eastern time.
Authorities did not say what concerns prompted the return to the gate and the removal of the passengers.
A federal law enforcement source said the flight crew was not comfortable with several passengers on board.
Police took four passengers off the flight.
Bomb sniffing dogs were seen inspecting luggage from the plane after the passengers were removed, according to CBS Baltimore.
TSA spokesman Bruce Anderson said while they were aware of the incident and “monitoring it” the agency was not the lead and referred questions to the local authorities.
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But reporter Suzanne Kennedy said it appeared suspicion was triggered when a woman got up shortly before take off and went to the back of a plane with a small child.
