Threat Closes Burbank Runway

A Southwest Airlines flight from Burbank to Phoenix returned to Bob Hope Airport on Sunday after what turned out to be a false bomb threat that forced the closure of one of the airport’s two runways for three hours, authorities said.

Flight 117, carrying 120 passengers, took off at 4:40 p.m. and was en route to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport when a bomb threat was called in to a Southwest reservation center at 5:30 p.m., said Beth Harbin, a spokeswoman for the airline.

The plane was ordered to turn around and landed safely in Burbank before evacuating all its passengers on slides on the taxiway.

Police searched the plane and found nothing, Harbin said.

“Everyone remained very calm and very quiet,” said passenger Justin Conklin, 33.

Conklin said authorities did not tell passengers about the bomb threat until they had landed.

Southwest summoned another plane to fly the passengers to Phoenix, Harbin said.

“Unfortunately, these things happen,” Harbin said.

“We have procedures for it, and we err on the side of caution. But they result in delay and inconvenience.”