15 MINS PRIOR TO DEP ON BOARD A300; CABIN CREW WAS ALERTED TO A BOMB THREAT. PAX; BAGS AND CREW WERE DEPLANED AND CHANGE OF ACFT RESULTED.

Narrative

THE CABIN CREW WAS INFORMED BY THE PURSER AT APPROX XA15 THAT OUR ACFT WAS THE SUBJECT OF A POSITIVE BOMB THREAT. THE CALLER TELEPHONED LCL POLICE AND INDICATED THAT A BOMB WAS ON A PLANE DEPARTING TO NY BTWN XA00 AND XA30. THE PAX WERE DEPLANED WITH ALL OF THEIR CARRY-ON BAGS; AS WERE THE FLT ATTENDANTS AND CREW MEMBERS. THE CAPT CONSULTED WITH THE CABIN CREW TELLING US THAT THE ACFT WOULD BE TOWED TO A REMOTE AREA AND SEARCHED; USING DOGS AS WELL. THE CABIN CREW FELT VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TAKING THIS ACFT ON TO NEW YORK AND ASKED IF IT WERE POSSIBLE TO GET ANOTHER ACFT. THE CAPT WENT TO OPS TO SEE IF AN AIRPLANE COULD BE FOUND TO SUBSTITUTE. FORTUNATELY; ANOTHER A300 WAS DUE TO ARRIVE AT XB30. IT WAS DECIDED WE WOULD USE THAT EQUIP. ALL BAGGAGE WOULD GO THROUGH X-RAY PROCS AGAIN; INCLUDING ALL HAND LUGGAGE. THE COMS BTWN GND STAFF; LONDON SECURITY; THE FLC AND CABIN CREW WAS OUTSTANDING. EACH DEPT KEEPING THE OTHER WELL INFORMED. THE GND PERSONNEL; SECURITY AND FLC WERE VERY SENSITIVE AND RESPONSIVE TO OUR QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS. OVERALL I FELT THIS INCIDENT WAS HANDLED VERY PROFESSIONALLY (AND SAFELY) BY ALL PARTIES INVOLVED.