On Thursday, a hijack threat stopped an American Airlines flight right before takeoff, leaving the New York-bound plane sitting on the tarmac for a few good hours while it was inspected and passengers were removed for further examination.

The FBI decided later that the threat, made by telephone, was not credible but in the wake of the 9/11 attacks and airline scares made in the last year, the threat still rattled nerves as it played out live on national TV.

Police were examining the hijacking threat and what their motivation might have been. While passengers recounted the scene as calm, witnesses say a man and woman seated in the back of the Boeing 767 were taken off in handcuffs. However, they were quickly released and permitted to rebook flights.

Source: Associated Press