“That’s a man-portable air-defense system,” an air traffic controller told the pilot. “Basically, it was a report of a rocket launcher”
Credit: Getty (2)
NEED TO KNOW
- A Delta flight approaching LaGuardia Airport was warned of a potential rocket launcher threat near Terminal C
- The threat was later deemed non-credible, and the plane landed safely with passengers reportedly unaware of the incident
- Experts emphasize that pilots treat all threats as serious due to the potentially catastrophic consequences of ignoring them
A Delta Air Lines pilot was warned to “use extreme caution” while landing in New York after an airport received a report of a rocket launcher.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, July 21, as Delta flight 2604 from Detroit approached New York’s LaGuardia Airport. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-900, was carrying 182 people, according to CBS News.
“Delta 2604, LaGuardia Tower… Cleared to land. MANPAD alert issued at LaGuardia Airport, use extreme caution,” an air traffic controller tells the Delta pilots just before 8:00 p.m. local time in an audio recording obtained by ATC.com.
However, it wasn’t immediately clear to the pilot what to look out for as he asked, “Can you explain what a MANPAD is?”
Credit: Getty
“Yeah, that’s a man-portable air-defense system,” the controller says. “Yeah, it’s— basically it was a report of a rocket launcher.”
He went on to add: “There was a report by the Port Authority Police, and they said by, I believe, Terminal C. We had conflicting reports, but nothing has been an issue as of yet.”
About a minute later, the controller said, “No need to respond, Delta 2604, Port Authority Police reported that was a non-credible threat.”
Credit: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty
A spokesperson for Delta Air Lines confirmed to PEOPLE the plane went on to land safely at the facility. Tracking data from FlightAware shows the plane did not deviate from its path. CBS News reports passengers on the aircraft were not even aware of the incident.
A spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates LaGuardia Airport, tells PEOPLE Port Authority Police received a report from an anonymous caller claiming to be at the end of a runway with a “rocket-propelled grenade and threatening to shoot down an aircraft.”
Authorities subsequently conducted a comprehensive search of the area and determined the reported threat was unfounded. The incident remains under investigation, per the Port Authority.
Captain Laura Einsetler, a commercial pilot for more than 30 years, told CBS News it’s important for pilots to take every threat seriously.
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“We always take every threat as significant and credible because the alternative can be catastrophic, “ she said.
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