Bomb threat, man on no-fly list delay Kirk's flight home

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk's flight home from Washington D.C. was delayed by both a bomb threat and a man on the no-fly list breaching normal security protocols at Reagan National Airport, Kirk said Monday.

The senator said the “unnecessary drama” Sunday was handled calmly and professionally by American Airlines staff, but that he believed the incident clearly demonstrated room for improvement with airport security.

Kirk spoke about the flight evacuation Monday after Arlington Heights' Memorial Day ceremony at Christian Liberty Academy.

He said his original flight was evacuated for the bomb threat. He then found himself on another flight with a man on the no-fly list who was taken into custody.

Kirk, a Highland Park Republican, was flying back to Chicago specifically to attend the Memorial Day event in Arlington Heights.

Kirk had boarded the flight at Reagan National Airport when dogs were brought on the plane to search it, Kirk spokesman Kevin Artl said.

The U.S. Senate was in session until early Saturday morning, and Kirk was on his way home for the weekend.