Chilling Threat Received by New York Air Controllers

  • Jan 06, 2021

Numerous New York air traffic controllers received and heard a chilling threat on Monday with this message, "We are flying a plane into the Capitol on Wednesday. Soleimani will be avenged.” CBS News was able to obtain a copy of the message.

The threat refers to Qassem Soleimani, the Iranian general killed last year in a U.S. drone strike ordered by President Trump. It was made on the one-year anniversary of Soleimani's death, for which Iranian officials have long vowed revenge.

It is unclear who sent the threat, though the government does not believe the warning of an attack is credible. The FBI is conducting an investigation. The bureau takes all threats of violence to the public seriously. It is being investigated as a breach of aviation frequencies.

Sources told CBS News that the Pentagon and other agencies were briefed Tuesday about the digitized voice recording. The sources said they believe the threat was designed to suggest hitting the Capitol on the same day Congress is set to count the Electoral College results.

Experts said the intrusion is concerning because it could affect the instructions pilots get about how and where planes fly.

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