Photo: EFE / MICHAEL REYNOLDS
Multiple air traffic controllers in New York heard a chilling threat Monday in an audio obtained exclusively by CBS News : “On Wednesday we will fly a plane to the Capitol. Soleimani will be avenged. ”
The threat is refers to Qasem Soleimani , the Iranian general assassinated last year in a drone attack ordered by the president Trump .
The threat was made on the first anniversary of Soleimani’s death, for which the authorities of Iran have promised revenge for a long time.
It is not clear who sent the threat.
While the The US government does not believe the warning of an attack is credible, is being investigated as a violation of aviation frequencies, CBS learned News.
Multiple sources told CBS News that the Pentagon and other agencies were informed on m arts on digitized voice recording. Sources said that believe the threat was designed to suggest that they will hit the Capitol on the same day that Congress is ready to certify the results of the Electoral College .
The experts said that intrusion is concerning because it could affect the instructions pilots receive on how and where planes fly.
Sources said to CBS News that a message was sent to air traffic controllers on Tuesday reminding them that any threat, or a plane deviating from its flight path , should be informed immediately.
The FBI did not comment, but said it takes “all threats of violence to public safety seriously.”
The Federal Aviation Administration told CB S News that is in contact with law enforcement agencies.