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This is an archive article published on September 15, 2000

Bomb hoax forces Musharraf plane to return to New York

WASHINGTON, SEPT 14: A Pakistan International Airlines flight carrying Pakistan's military ruler General Pervez Musharraf returned to New ...

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WASHINGTON, SEPT 14: A Pakistan International Airlines flight carrying Pakistan’s military ruler General Pervez Musharraf returned to New York late Wednesday for a second security check after a hoaxer said three bombs were on board.

As the plane was taxiing for take-off at around 9 pm Wednesday, an anonymous caller told New York police by telephone that three bombs had been planted on it, said Steve Coleman, a spokesman for New York Port Authority, which controls the city’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

The plane was heading for Karachi via Manchester, England. Despite the call, the Pilot decided to proceed with take-off, Coleman said. “The plane had previously been checked with sniffer dogs, as there was a VIP on board. As far as people on the ground were concerned, there was nothing on it.” However about 30 minutes into the flight, as the plane was passing by Boston, Massachusetts, “the Pilot had second thoughts and decided to have it rechecked.” The plane returned to John F. Kennedy Airport, each passenger was matched up with their luggage, and the security checks were repeated. It then took off again for Manchester at around 3:00 am, Coleman said.

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