Two Bomb Threats Delay Broncos

At least two bomb threats were made against the Denver Broncos chartered aircraft Sunday after the team defeated the Cleveland Browns, authorities said.

The aircraft, a DC-8, was permitted to take off after a short delay, a United Airlines spokesman said. Two threatening calls were made to the reservations desk at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

Additionally, a source at Hopkins said an upset Browns fan made a threat against the Broncos’ plane in a call to Denver Stapleton Airport, but that threat was not considered to be serious.

Donald Rieder, a Cleveland policeman at Cleveland Hopkins International Aiport, said the flight left about 8:35 p.m. EST, about four hours after the game. He said to his knowledge there were no searches made of luggage. “Whatever happened here got blown out of proportion,” Rieder said.