Flight Diverted After Misunderstanding Over Jewish Prayer Ritual

Authorities say a misunderstanding about a Jewish prayer ritual led to the diversion of a US Airways flight to Philadelphia and a visit from the bomb squad.

The flight, US Airways Express Flight 3079 out of LaGuardia Airport, was bound for Louisville, Kentucky this morning, when a Jewish teen began using phylacteries, also called tefillin. Tefillin are a set of two small black boxes containing Biblical verses, with leather straps attached.

A police official says the crew questioned the teen, who explained the ritual. Still, the pilot decided to divert the plane to Philly.