FLIGHT 800: TRAGEDY’S AFTERMATH : Security Breach Delays United’s Flight From Germany; Man Held

Passengers aboard a United Airlines flight from Frankfurt, Germany, to Washington were evacuated before takeoff after someone breached the aircraft’s security Saturday, an airline spokeswoman in Chicago said.

A Reuters correspondent on the flight said U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Madeleine Albright was on the plane and that a man was detained for having a false passport.

The incident occurred in a climate of heightened security at international airports after the explosion of a TWA jumbo jet Wednesday that killed all 230 people on board.

United’s Flight 917 was delayed for five hours, spokeswoman Connie Duff said.

“An unauthorized individual breached security and entered the sterile secured airplane area. The individual was apprehended. . . . The airplane was re-secured and all carry-on and checked bags were rechecked.”

Duff said the airline and authorities were conducting a full investigation. Such a security breach was very rare, she said.

Police in Frankfurt said they could not confirm the incident.

The airline’s spokeswoman in Chicago said it was unclear if the unauthorized person boarded the plane, went into the cargo area or just went beyond the ticketing area in the airport. The nationality of the person was also unknown.