Social Media

Dallas-Bound Southwest Airlines Flight Target of Social Media Threat

A Dallas-bound Southwest Airlines flight was among several commercial jetliners targeted by threats Monday on social media.

A Twitter user contacted Southwest and made a threat against Flight 4200, which flew from San Diego to Dallas Love Field and landed safely just after 8 p.m.

In response to the threat, the airline released the following statement:

"Any threat or alleged threat against the safety of our Employees, Customers, or aircraft is a matter we take very seriously. We are working with the relevant authorities to ensure the Safety of this and every flight. It is our policy not to further comment on matters of security."

Southwest Airlines Flight 558 from Los Angeles to Atlanta was also threatened Monday.

The FBI said it was aware of the situation and was monitoring social media, including the specific Twitter user that made the threat, but the agency did not dispatch any special agents to Love Field in response to this threat.

Passengers who traveled to Dallas on Flight 4200 said Monday evening they didn't know about the threat until asked about it as they exited the terminal at Love Field.

Federal sources say there have been social media threats against at least six commericial planes Monday, including the Dallas-bound Southwest flight, NBC News reported. Other threats targeted Delta, Jet Blue and US Airways flights.

The threats came two days after two other flights, including a Southwest flight, were escorted by NORAD fighter jets to Atlanta's Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport after they were also threatened. After those planes landed, they were swept by law enforcement officials and nothing suspicious was found.

Sources said it does not appear Monday's threats were credible but could not immediately say whether the threats came from same source as earlier threats or if they were copycats.

Federal officials are continuing to investigate all the threats — now numbering at about a dozen since Saturday.

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