Additional Coverage:
- Bomb threat investigated aboard American Airlines flight (abcnews.go.com)
Austin, TX – A tense situation unfolded last week at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, causing a significant delay for passengers on an American Airlines flight bound for Charlotte, North Carolina.
Flight 2863 was preparing for a 1:42 p.m. departure when a passenger alerted a flight attendant to a concerning WiFi hotspot name. The hotspot reportedly suggested the presence of a bomb on the aircraft.
According to passenger Bruce Steen, the flight attendant immediately notified the cockpit. The pilot announced an “administrative issue” and returned the plane to the gate.
Authorities, including the Austin Police Department and the Department of Aviation, were contacted. The pilot later informed passengers about the alarming hotspot name.
An Austin police officer boarded the plane and addressed the passengers, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation and asking anyone involved in a prank to come forward. No one confessed.
All passengers were then escorted off the plane and required to show their personal hotspot names to police. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) confirmed that all passengers and luggage were rescreened.
A bomb-sniffing dog inspected all luggage and the plane’s baggage compartment. After a thorough search, authorities cleared the aircraft.
The flight eventually departed around 6:15 p.m. local time. The incident caused a substantial delay for the affected flight, but Austin Airport officials reported no other significant disruptions to airport operations.
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- Bomb threat investigated aboard American Airlines flight (abcnews.go.com)