A flight from Austin to Charlotte was delayed for four hours after a passenger on board renamed their Wi-Fi hotspot to 'There is a bomb on the flight.' This prompted a security response, with passengers and baggage being rescreened and a thorough investigation conducted by law enforcement and the TSA.
An American Airlines flight experienced a significant delay last Friday after a Wi-Fi hotspot with a suspicious name caused a security alert . Flight 2863, traveling from Austin, Texas to Charlotte, North Carolina, was grounded for four hours due to the incident. According to Bruce Steen, a passenger on the flight, a flight attendant was approached by a young man using a tablet to display something on the screen.
The attendant immediately contacted the cockpit, and the pilot announced a return to the gate citing an 'administrative issue.' Steen, speaking to ABC News, stated that the pilot later informed passengers that the issue stemmed from someone renaming their Wi-Fi hotspot. The pilot allegedly said the crew had been told the hotspot was named 'There is a bomb on the flight.' The incident prompted a response from the Austin Police Department and the Department of Aviation. A lieutenant with the Austin Police Department boarded the aircraft and addressed the passengers, inquiring if anyone was responsible for the joke and warning that they would handle the situation differently depending on whether it was a prank or a genuine threat. Steen reported that no passengers raised their hands, and everyone on board was removed from the aircraft in groups by police. Each passenger was required to show their Wi-Fi hotspot to authorities for inspection. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued a statement to ABC, emphasizing that they take bomb threats very seriously. They confirmed that passengers and all checked baggage were rescreened, and authorities conducted a thorough examination of each baggage compartment on the aircraft. The Austin Airport assured ABC that the incident did not significantly impact airport operations or airline schedules
American Airlines Flight Delay Wi-Fi Hotspot Bomb Threat Security Alert
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