Delta jet diverted in US by passenger bomb claim

A Delta Airlines flight to Atlanta from Paris was diverted to Maine on Tuesday after a passenger made threats about a bomb and was subdued by U.S. air marshals before being taken into custody upon landing, authorities said.

The male passenger, an American citizen, made comments about having a backpack bomb on board, law enforcement officials said.

A Delta spokeswoman said Flight 273, an Airbus 330, had 235 passengers and a crew of eight on board.

"Out of an abundance of caution, the flight is being diverted to Bangor International Airport. TSA and law enforcement will meet the flight upon arrival," the Transportation Security Administration said in a statement.

TSA and law enforcement officials met the flight, which landed at 3:37 p.m. (1937 GMT), and the passenger was taken for questioning, officials said.

The flight, from Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport, was due to land at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport at 5:25 p.m. (2125 GMT).

Instead, the plane landed in Bangor, Maine, the easternmost airport in the United States that can accommodate such a large jet.

Delta was coordinating with officials on the ground and planned to continue the flight on to Atlanta on Tuesday.