Jet searched as precaution at LAX over 'non-credible' threat

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A SWAT team with guns drawn searched a jet packed with passengers at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday after authorities received a threat about the flight from Houston, officials said.

The search, which was aired live on local television stations, was one of two incidents Tuesday involving flights originating in Houston. Threats related to both incidents were deemed not credible, and no one was detained.

In Los Angeles, 76 passengers and four crew members were escorted from an American Airlines twin-engine regional jet more than an hour after it landed without incident. Seven SWAT officers and a police dog drove up in an armored vehicle and went through the plane, which was kept on a remote stretch of runway during the search.

The Transportation Security Administration received the threat against American Eagle Flight 5931, operated by Compass Airlines, LAX police Officer Rob Pedregon said.

Officials did not release details about it, and the TSA referred inquiries to local law enforcement.

The FBI would try to determine "the person or group responsible for making the threat," agency spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said.

"I was scared," passenger Mickey Montavo told reporters after she was allowed off the plane. "I texted my kids, 'I love you. I don't know what's going to happen.' "

She said passengers didn't know what was going on at first, but they later were told there had been a bomb threat.

Passengers were told not to move or touch their phones, and they had to put their hands on the seats in front of them for about 20 minutes, she said.

Another passenger posted a video to Snapchat showing the SWAT team on the plane as someone announced: "Don't worry, we're going to pull you guys all off in a minute. Nice and orderly, nice and slow."

"This is nuts. This is so crazy," the passenger films herself saying as a SWAT member stood in the background.