Oct 18, 2001

Harrisburg and Lancaster Airports Shut Down Because of Threat at Three Mile Island

The Associated Press

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Three Mile Island nuclear power plant received a "credible threat" on Wednesday, prompting officials to shut down two nearby airports and dispatch military aircraft to protect the facility.

The plant was placed on a high state of alert as the FBI, state police and military planes scrambled to protect the facility.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission spokeswoman Diane Screnci declined to discuss the type of threat, or how the agency received it. The commission told Three Mile Island about the threat between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., and the airports were shut down about 9 p.m., she said.

Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Laura Brown said a "temporary flight restriction" extended to a 20-mile radius around the Harrisburg airport after the threat.

Three Mile Island is located just outside Harrisburg, which is 35 miles northwest of Lancaster.

Ralph DeSantis, a spokesman for Three Mile Island, confirmed the plant's high state of alert, but also declined to discuss the type of threat or the additional security measures.

He said Three Mile Island was the only nuclear power plant threatened.

Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the power plant had already taken additional security measures, but Wednesday's alert tightened security further, DeSantis and Screnci said.

AP-ES-10-18-01 0145EDT

This story can be found at : http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA6J5W4YSC.html

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

Answers

I don't understand how closing airports can accomplish much. With the speed of the commercial jets, no target is safe.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

It means any aircraft flying into that zone will be shot down.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

I don't know about them being shot down, but it would keep them from flying thru fallout if the plant did blow up. Depending on wind direction, of course...

It isn't just commercial airliners, but the cargo planes, too. Maybe even private jets.

I think that someone is 'testing the fences' to see what actions are taken for a certain threat. Wanting to see if we can respond sufficiently to their attack on a facility. Also, to wear us down by making us respond to fake threats.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

"I think that someone is 'testing the fences' to see what actions are taken for a certain threat. Wanting to see if we can respond sufficiently to their attack on a facility."

Barefoot, I hadn't thought about it that way. It was curious to me that there was so much blatant surveillance going on after 9/11. I would have thought they would do that homework before our alert was up. So, I thought it was either terrorist wannabees or just noise (no real intent, just wanted to keep us flinching). Your thought is much more disturbing.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

I heard on the radio on my way into work this morning, about TMI having been given a "credible threat". They are taking this situation very serious.

still braindead, apoc

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

Sorry, it wasn't my intention to disturb anyone. Seemed a logical assumption.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

No problemo, just trying to make sense out of some bizarre happenings...

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001