Suspicious Item Forces Plane Evacuation

LOS ANGELES_Police evacuated an Alaska Airlines flight Monday after a "suspicious item" was found on board that no one claimed, Los Angeles International Airport officials said.

Authorities using bomb-sniffing dogs found no explosives inside the plane's cargo hold or the item, which was similar to a remote control for a toy car or plane, authorities said.

The FBI and other agencies were investigating, though there was no immediate threat, said bureau spokeswoman Laura Eimiller.

Airport police were notified at 8:20 a.m. that there was a suspicious item on board the flight, which originated in Guadalajara, Mexico, said airport spokeswoman Nancy Castles.

Authorities said the crew became alarmed when no one claimed the item.

"The flight attendant discovered an item and she said, 'Is this yours?' And all the passengers said, 'No,'" airport spokesman Harold Johnson said.

The plane landed without incident just before 9 a.m., Castles said, and all 125 passengers and crew were taken to a terminal in buses after the plane stopped. Transportation Security Administration officials searched passenger luggage and belongings by hand, the FBI said.

The passengers were held at a remote gate and interviewed by law enforcement, said Castles. The last passenger was released at 3 p.m., Eimiller said.

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