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Flyers get off plane at Burlington International Airport after authorities find 'threatening note'

Emergency services arrived at Burlington Airport in response to allegations that passengers were asked to exit a plane after finding a threatening note

SOUTH BURLINGTON, VERMONT: The Burlington Police Department has requested the Vermont State Police Bomb Squad to come to the Burlington International Airport (BTV) as they look into an unlawful threat made aboard a plane on Sunday, March 12, 2023. Emergency services arrived at Burlington Airport in response to allegations that passengers were asked to exit a plane after finding a threatening note.

K-9 units and first responders from many agencies, including the Vermont State Police Bomb Squad, have reportedly launched a Phase 5 reaction for an aircraft under duress. South Burlington Police Chief Shawn Burke stated that officers are currently responding to an aircraft being under duress at the highest level, Phase 5, according to WPTZ. NBC5's Alice Kang has provided real-time updates through Twitter. The reporter has been stranded on her plane since arriving in Vermont while flying on a United Airlines route from Newark to Burlington.

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'People are getting frustrated'

Kang claimed that after the plane had landed at Burlington Airport, she and the other passengers were left stranded for about two hours. "People are getting frustrated. They want to know what's going on. It's been almost 2 hours since we've landed," Kang tweeted a status update at 6.35 pm.

Kang added, "Flight attendants told us to expect law enforcement officers on the plane. We're not allowed to touch or take anything in the overhead bins." She subsequently tweeted that Vermont State Police and a K9 team had been called in to conduct an investigation after "a note with a threat" had been discovered.

'A note saying there was a Device on plane was reported'

"We weren't allowed to take anything but phone and ID," Kang tweeted after being escorted to BTV at 6.54 pm. She tweeted at 7.08 pm, "A note saying there was a Device on plane was reported. Federal authorities, BPD, VSP, BTV airport officials giving an update and going through the entire plane. We're not sure when we will get our stuff." 

In her most recent update, Kang wrote, "We were released to go but we were not allowed to take anything so people are wondering how long it'll be until they get their stuff back. Many people don't have their car keys with them." 

Employees have been seen taking luggage off planes and spreading it out on the tarmac, according to WCAX. Airport flights both in and out have been halted. An ambulance and a huge fire truck have also been spotted at the airport.