An American Airlines flight was delayed last week after the crew discovered a suspicious WiFi hotspot name containing the word “bomb.”
Flight 2863 was scheduled to leave Austin, Texas, for Charlotte, North Carolina, at 1:42 p.m. on February 7. However, before takeoff, a young passenger showed a flight attendant something on their tablet. The flight attendant quickly contacted the cockpit, and the pilot soon announced that the plane would return to the gate due to an “administrative issue.”
Authorities, including the Austin Police Department and the Department of Aviation, were alerted. Passenger Bruce Steen, 63, from Charlotte, was on board when the incident happened. He later told ABC News that after a few minutes, the pilot informed passengers that someone had renamed their WiFi hotspot to say, “there is a bomb on the flight.”
A police lieutenant then boarded the plane and warned that this was a serious matter. He asked if anyone was playing a prank and urged them to come forward. However, no one admitted to it, so all passengers had to leave the plane in small groups for further checks.
Police officers asked each passenger to show their WiFi hotspot names. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) stated that all passengers and their checked luggage had to be screened again. Bomb-sniffing dogs searched the baggage and the plane’s cargo area, ensuring there were no threats.
After thorough security checks, the Austin Police Department cleared the plane. The flight finally departed at 6:15 p.m. local time.
Austin Airport officials confirmed that the incident did not cause major disruptions to airport operations, except for the delay of Flight 2863. The Austin Police Department has not provided further comments on the case.
This situation serves as a reminder that bomb threats are taken very seriously in air travel. Authorities urge passengers to avoid making such jokes, as they can lead to serious consequences, including legal action and flight disruptions.
