Fighter jets escort airliner

2004-01-06 22:10

Washington - A plane flying from Paris to the United States was being escorted Tuesday by military fighter jets to a landing in Cincinnati, Ohio, after a suspicious-looking woman tried to board it, CNN reported.

The woman was discovered to have wires hidden in her jacket and was not allowed to board. The plane then left, and French authorities notified the United States.

The US transportation security administration feared other suspicious passengers might still be on board and decided to escort the plane "out of an abundance of caution", CNN said.

All passengers were to be rescreened when they landed.

However, both French and US officials said the woman was later determined not to be a security threat and was allowed to book a later flight.

The United States has increased its security measures, particularly at airports, after it raised its terrorism alert level before Christmas to "high", its second-highest level.

US officials and terrorism experts have also warned that terrorists might try to smuggle bomb components on planes so they can be assembled on board. - Sapa-DPA

- SAPA