PHOENIX_A Southwest Airlines flight to El Paso, Texas, was brought back to Phoenix after two telephoned threats were received, authorities said.
Officials at Sky Harbor International Airport said Flight 792 landed Friday night without incident and all 90 passengers aboard were being re-screened along with their luggage at an isolated area of the airport.
Jennifer Peppin, a spokeswoman for the Transportation Security Administration in Seattle, said "two anonymous calls were made to Southwest Airlines nine minutes apart and the calls were threatening in nature."
Peppin would not disclose what the threats entailed but said it was Southwest's decision to have the plane return to Phoenix immediately.
A TSA official said authorities were doing a thorough sweep of the plane using canine units Friday night.
"We received a threat but I can't elaborate," said Marilee McInnis, a spokeswoman for Southwest Airlines in Dallas, Texas. "We turned the plane around and notified the proper authorities."
Julie Rodriguez, a Sky Harbor spokeswoman, said the plane departed Phoenix at 8:10 p.m. MST and "a couple of calls came in that caused concerns."
Rodriguez said it was not clear where the calls originated and referred all questions to the TSA.
The 90 passengers were to be put on other flights to El Paso later Friday night, according to Rodriguez.
