A United jet was diverted to a far corner of Denver International Airport after reports that a man tried to ignite his shoes during its flight Wednesday night from Washington, D.C.
A prerecorded message from DIA confirmed that a “security incident” was taking place and that officials there had been notified about a disturbance. ABC News reported that no explosives were found in the shoes.
It was unclear whether it was a serious threat — or a joke to mask the smoking of a cigarette.
ABC News, CNN and others were reporting that authorities have identified a man being interviewed as Mohammed al Modadi, a Qatari diplomat.
United Flight 663, a Boeing 757 carrying 157 passengers and six crew members from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, landed safely at DIA about 7 p.m., officials said. The officials said fighter jets were scrambled but proved unnecessary.
Passengers were removed by bus and were being questioned by the FBI.
According to NBC News, about 30 minutes before the jet landed, an air marshal smelled smoke and confronted a man emerging from a bathroom who claimed he was trying to set his shoes on fire.
