Spirit Airlines Flight Evacuated Over Bomb Threat

A Spirit Airlines flight leaving Detroit Metropolitan Airport bound for Los Angeles on Thursday was evacuated due to a bomb threat.

The incident was first reported at around 7 a.m. local time, according to the Detroit Free Press. The plane was boarded and on the tarmac when law enforcement officials were called in over "a potential security issue."

The aircraft was deplaned and taken to a remote location, where responding members of the Wayne County Airport Authority and the Transportation Security Administration did a sweep and determined it was clean. 

“On Thursday morning, the Wayne County Airport Authority’s Emergency & Support Services and Airfield Operations teams along with the TSA [Transportation Security Administration] responded to a bomb threat involving a Spirit Airlines aircraft at Detroit Metropolitan Airport,” an airport spokesman confirmed in a statement to The Hill.

Passengers were also rescreened upon reentering the plane, and eventually, the flight left for LAX. The matter is under investigation. 

"The safety of our Guests and Team Members is our top priority, and we are working to get our Guests to their destination as soon as possible. Further questions should be directed to law enforcement," Spirit said in a statement.

This morning's incident comes as Spirit is in the middle of attempting to overhaul its budget airline reputation with a number of upgrades.

"Spirit recently overhauled its Free Spirit loyalty program, and—brace yourselves—it’s good," said Kyle Stewart of Live and Let's Fly this week. "Not 'good for Spirit,' but actually competitive with mainline carriers. Elite members can now enjoy perks like free checked bags, seat selection (yes, even Big Front Seats), and priority boarding. And unlike American’s loyalty points or Delta’s SkyMiles circus, Free Spirit Status levels that award these perks are available at lower thresholds than any of the major carriers.

"Spirit also offers more nonstop flights from secondary cities than the other carriers. For airports like my home airport in Pittsburgh, it’s often the only nonstop option or is more competitive in markets like New York (though it’s since discontinued flights between Pittsburgh and the New York market)."