UPDATE: The Boston Celtics confirmed that the team plane was, in fact, the target of a bomb threat, though it fortunately proved to be a false threat.
Team spokesman Jeff Twiss, who was with the team on the flight, told The Boston Herald’s Steve Bulpett that the threat was called in during the flight. The threat was received roughly 3/4 of the way into the flight, but only a few people were told what was happening before the plane landed, Bulpett reported.
An FBI special agent also gave The Herald a statement on the situation. From The Herald:
“Oklahoma City police department received a call of a bomb on that flight, and they contacted us. Agents from our office, officers from the Oklahoma City police department, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Oklahoma City fire department and EMSA ambulance service responded to the incident. Passengers and crew were removed from the plane safely. The plane was searched, baggage was searched and no device was located.”
The plane never made an emergency landing, instead touching down as scheduled around 5:45 p.m. local time.
Original story: The Boston Celtics reportedly received some very scary news when they landed in Oklahoma City on Saturday.
A bomb threat was made against the Celtics and their plane Saturday night, according to multiple reports. WBZ’s Scott Sullivan was the first to report the bomb threat, and MassLive.com’s Jay King and FOX25 Boston’s Tim Martin provided further details. Police told KOCO-5 Oklahoma City that the threat was a hoax, according to WCVB’s Scott Isaacs.
Here’s reportedly what happened:
I'm hearing the #Celtics had to make an emergency landing because of a bomb threat.
— Scott Sullivan (@sullybunZ) December 11, 2016
I've been told there was a bomb threat against Celtics/their plane, but they landed in OKC, bags were searched and everything is "all fine."
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) December 11, 2016
To my knowledge, @sullybunz was the first to report the threat. I'm told there was no emergency landing, though.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) December 11, 2016
Bomb scare called in to @celtics plane. Plane landed safely/on time in OKC. FBI/Local authorities investigating per Celtics Spox. #FOX25 1/2 pic.twitter.com/Hu0FpdC4Lb
— Tim Martin (@TMar15) December 11, 2016
No evidence of a bomb per C's spox. @celtics players now on their way to hotel. Team informed of the incident after they landed. #Fox25 2/2
— Tim Martin (@TMar15) December 11, 2016
Our sister station @koconews confirm bomb threat called in to @Celtics flight to OKC. Police say it was a HOAX. Plane landed safely #wcvb
— Scott Isaacs (@ScottIsaacs) December 11, 2016
.@Celtics players were allowed to deplane normally. Flight was swept and all clear given #wcvb
— Scott Isaacs (@ScottIsaacs) December 11, 2016
To sum up the multiple reports, it appears the Celtics were told about the incident, which police say was a hoax, once they landed safely in Oklahoma City. Their bags were checked and they subsequently went to their hotel.
Celtics forward Jae Crowder apparently mentioned the bomb scare in his Snapchat story, which has been screen grabbed by multiple followers on Twitter.
According to Jae Crowder's instagram there was a bomb threat on the team's charter flight to Oklahoma City. pic.twitter.com/CdpRQg49p9
— Logan Mullen (@ByLoganMullen) December 11, 2016
The Celtics are scheduled to face the Thunder on Sunday.
Thumbnail photo via Mark L. Baer/USA TODAY Sports Images
