Flight Passenger in Custody for Posing ‘Direct Threat’ on Plane Moments Before Takeoff at Seattle Airport

A flight passenger is in police custody following a security incident involving an Alaska Airlines aircraft at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).

At around 1:00 p.m. local time on Saturday, June 14, the Port of Seattle Police and Fire Department began investigating a situation involving a plane on the runway at the SEA, the airport stated in a news release. 

An individual allegedly posed a “direct threat” to the safety of Alaska Airlines Flight 2123 as it was preparing to take off from Seattle to Walla Walla, Wash., an Alaska Airlines spokesperson told PEOPLE.

“Port of Seattle Police were alerted to a direct threat made by a passenger to Alaska flight 2123 scheduled to depart to Walla Walla,” the spokesperson said. “The flight crew followed protocol and taxied the aircraft to the outboard runway, 16R/34L, furthest from the terminal for safety purposes.”

“A suspect was taken into custody. All passengers were deplaned from the aircraft and cleared through K9 inspection along with the aircraft and baggage. No suspicious items were found,” they continued.

The spokesperson added that a “further investigation found the suspect made a flippant remark regarding a bomb to the flight crew.”

“All such remarks are taken seriously and investigated with an abundance of caution,” they explained. “The FBI and Port of Seattle Police are reviewing and will work with prosecutors to determine whether charges are appropriate.”

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Sixty-eight passengers and four crew members onboard the flight at the time, Fox 13 Seattle reported.

Alaska Airlines confirmed that at least six flights were canceled, and two others were diverted, tied to the incident, per the outlet.

“We are working to get all guests to their destinations safely and as quickly as possible,” an airline spokesperson told Fox 13 Seattle.

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Video footage obtained by KING 5 Seattle shows the Port of Seattle Police Department with sniffer dogs at the scene, as passengers could be seen lining up on the runway. 

The investigation remains ongoing.

The FBI in Seattle and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Sunday, June 15.