Earlier this week, a Southwest Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Hawaii diverted to Oakland after a passenger shared a photograph via Apple’s AirDrop feature suggesting a bomb was on the plane. Cops met the aircraft on landing and told passengers to deplane with their phones, identification, and boarding passes.
AirDrop bomb threats
For some reason, people still think it’s funny to make jokes about bombs in airports and on airplanes. On Monday, a passenger on a Southwest Airlines flight AirDropped photos suggesting there was a bomb on the aircraft, causing a diversion. The flight was from Harry Reid International Airport to Kahului Airport on the island of Maui in Hawaii and diverted to Oakland International Airport.
The Southwest Boeing 737 MAX 8 took off from LAS at 09:47 local time, 22 minutes late, and one hour and fifty minutes into the flight diverted to OAK. Certainly one of the flight attendants also received the alarming image, and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department was notified and met the plane when it landed in Oakland at 12:49 local time. On the bottom, a deputy boarded the aircraft and told passengers to deplane in order that an intensive search may very well be conducted.
A passenger shared a video of the deputy boarding the aircraft,
One other video shows airport ground staff removing bags from the aircraft and placing them on the taxiway while passengers deplaned.
Lieutenant Tya Modeste told Insider,
“Oakland Airport Operations, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and APS evacuated the aircraft and, with the utilization of EOD canines, an intensive search was conducted of all individuals aboard the flight, in addition to their personal belongings and luggage.”
In the long run, no bombs were found, and the passengers continued to Maui at 18:28 on a distinct aircraft. The aircraft involved within the incident was used for a flight to San Diego later that night.
Two incidents this week
Yesterday, an Alaska Airlines flight from Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Seattle Tacoma International Airport diverted to Spokane due to a reported bomb threat. The airport shut down all departures and arrivals, allowing the Alaska Airlines flight to land and taxi to a distant location in order that passengers may very well be evacuated. Alaska Airlines confirmed to Easy Flying that there was a security incident on Flight 334, stating a male passenger had threatened the flight and a flight attendant.
Law enforcement met the aircraft and handled the situation.
“There have been 177 passengers and 6 crew members on board. We appreciate their patience and understanding during this case. We worked to get them to Seattle, their original destination, as quickly as possible. We’re grateful for the professionalism and care of our flight attendants and pilots throughout this incident.”
Have you ever ever been on a flight with an incident like this? Tell us within the comments below.
Sources: Business Insider