Delays as Chicago's Midway airport shuts

Chicago's Midway Airport was temporarily closed yesterday after a written bomb threat was discovered on board a plane flying from Seattle to Chicago.

Southwest Airlines flight 202 landed safely but was not allowed to approach the terminal, its 129 passengers being taken to a secure area for questioning.

Reports suggest that a passenger handed the notes "indirect threat" to the plane's onboard staff after finding it in a seatback pocket.

"We placed a ground stop at the airport for about a half an hour; it was lifted at 1:45," said Tony Molinaro, the regional Federal Aviation Authority spokesman.

Delays of around 20 minutes existed at 2.30pm local time, although these are now reported to have mostly cleared.

Chicago Midway Airport serves over 17 million travellers each year.