Fellow passengers: No panic on plane after arrest of Times Square bomb suspect

No panic on plane as Times Square suspect arrested

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Passengers aboard the plane with the Times Square bomb suspect said Wednesday they were asked to identify their carry-on baggage and went through another round of security screening after the flight was brought back to the terminal in New York.

Suspect Faisal Shahzad was arrested Monday at John F. Kennedy International Airport while authorities held back the Dubai-bound Emirates flight and brought passengers back into the waiting lounge.

Passengers arriving in Dubai said the plane left the gate and taxied for about five minutes before the pilot made an announcement that the plane was returning. They were asked to identify their carry-on luggage, but there was no other information given by the flight crew.

Some passengers said they only learned of the links to the failed Times Square attack after seeing news reports in the terminal or talking with airport security officials. It was unclear whether any passengers witnessed the arrest of Shahzad, who was placed on a “no-fly” list by U.S. officials just hours earlier.

The passengers said they went through another full security screening before returning to the plane, which was delayed about seven hours.

In a statement Tuesday, Dubai-based Emirates said that two passengers were questioned, but were released and allowed to travel on the flight.

“We didn’t know what was going on … When we went back to the airport, that was when we became somewhat concerned,” said Myra Page, a tourist from Maryland.

Colorado businessman Robert Woodward says there was no panic.

“There was no commotion, no general alarm or concern,” he said.

Eds: LEADS with quotes. CORRECTS to CLARIFY that suspect was arrested before plane left gate.