HOME: US: WIRE STORY Loaded gun found in bathroom of plane 8.23 p.m. ET (033 GMT) April 3, 2000

NORFOLK, Va. (AP)  A passenger found a loaded gun in a bathroom sink on a Delta Express flight Monday, forcing the plane to be diverted to Norfolk, authorities said.

The gun was found about 10 minutes after Flight 2395 left Islip, N.Y., for Orlando, Fla. The plane landed in Norfolk less than an hour later.

About 50 passengers were on the Boeing 737. They were taken to the airport fire station and interviewed by the FBI, agent Stephen Yount said. Agents searched the plane for other weapons but didn't find any, he said.

The plane was released to Delta after the search, and the passengers were allowed to continue their travel.

Delta spokesman John Kennedy said it is airline policy not to discuss security issues.

http://www.foxnews.com/national/0403/d_ap_0403_207.sml

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), April 03, 2000