By Associated Press, 1/28/2003 19:46

BOSTON (AP) A United Airlines flight bound for San Francisco from Logan International Airport was grounded Tuesday after a first-class passenger found a box cutter in the magazine pouch of the seat in front of her. The plane was searched and the passengers re-screened before the flight was allowed to take off at 6:22 p.m., about three hours after its scheduled departure time.

Transportation and Security Administration spokesman Brian Turmail says a woman discovered the blade as passengers were boarding. The Boeing 757 was kept on the ground and the pilot ordered all passengers removed.

Turmail said 10 TSA screeners were at the gate, screening the passengers and searching the plane to make sure no other weapons were on board. The plane had previously flown to Boston from Denver International Airport, an airline official said.

United spokesman Joe Hopkins described incident as a ”security breach,” and said the search found nothing else suspicious on board. He said an investigation is ongoing.

Hopkins said about 80 passengers were on board the plane, plus crew.

FBI spokeswoman Gail Marcinkiewicz said the FBI was not involved in the case.