Anchorage Airport Reopens After Bomb Threat

Alaska’s largest airport, Anchorage International Airport, was briefly closed after a bomb threat was reported on an Asia-bound cargo flight.

According to the tweet below, a China Airlines Cargo B747F, registration B-18715, flying from Seattle to Taipei was diverted to ANC early in the morning. The aircraft had been searched in a remote and secure area of the airport.

The Dynasty 747-400F that had a bomb threat called in is B-18715. It departed from here yesterday for ATL then went DFW then SEA, and was on it's way to Taipei when it diverted here. FBI still working on it#avgeek #aviationphotography #planespotting #aviation #pilot #pilotlife pic.twitter.com/PxND1WF2W2

— MarkyMark (@Fiicaan) May 2, 2020

The FBI and the Anchorage Police Department were on the scene and are leading the investigation.

Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) is currently closed to inbound flights due to a report of a security incident on an Asian-bound cargo flight. The flight was diverted to ANC early this morning. FBI and Anchorage Police are on scene and leading the investigation. pic.twitter.com/Rx0iG6xmSW

— Anchorage Airport (@ANCairport) May 2, 2020

During the 3.5 hours that the airport was closed, some airplanes, including the world’s largest aircraft Antonov An-225, were diverted to Fairbanks International Airport before returning to Anchorage.

New flightplan in the system! #Antonov225 FAI – ANC #an225 #a225 #antonov #avgeeks #avgeek #planespotting pic.twitter.com/5wToijqBmW

— 𝗝𝗮𝘆’𝘀 𝗢’𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗔𝘃𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (@ohareaviation) May 2, 2020

Anchorage International Airport is one of the major hubs in the USA for cargo flights, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing in essential medical supplies from Asia.