In New York, air traffic controllers heard a threat on Monday that warned a plane would be flown into the US Capitol on Wednesday. Senior national security officials did not find the threat to be credible but advise “all threats of violence to public safety seriously.”
“We are flying a plane into the Capitol on Wednesday. Soleimani will be avenged,” the digitized voice recording said, which was obtained by CBS News.
The recording referred to Qassem Soleimani, an Iranian general killed last year in an airstrike ordered by Donald Trump. It was made on the first anniversary of Soleimani’s death, and Iran has long threatened to retaliate.
The threat coincides with Congress’s certification of the Electoral College votes set to take place Wednesday at the Capitol.
A source told Fox News that “while it is possible it is a hoax, it is being taken seriously.”
The incident is being investigated as a breach of aviation frequencies, according to CBS News. This can be dangerous because it could affect communications with pilots. On Tuesday, air traffic controllers were notified that any plane straying from its flight path should be reported immediately.
It is unclear at this time who sent the threat.
