An American Airlines flight was delayed last week after authorities were alerted to suspicious activity on board related to a Wi-Fi hotspot name that contained the word “bomb.” Flight 2863, scheduled to travel from Austin, Texas, to Charlotte, North Carolina, was initially set to depart at 1:42 p.m.
Bruce Steen, a 63-year-old passenger from Charlotte, was aboard the flight and recounted the incident. Steen was seated near the front of the plane when he saw a young man approach a flight attendant with a tablet. The flight attendant immediately contacted the cockpit, and soon after, the pilot announced that the flight would return to the gate due to an “administrative issue.” At the same time, the crew had informed the Austin Police Department and the Department of Aviation.
A few minutes later, the pilot explained that a passenger had renamed their Wi-Fi hotspot to “there is a bomb on the flight.” An Austin Police lieutenant boarded the plane and addressed the passengers, warning that such a joke was not appropriate and stating that if anyone was responsible for the incident, they needed to come forward. The lieutenant emphasized the seriousness of the situation and indicated that the investigation would proceed based on whether the act was a joke or a real threat.
As a result, all passengers were escorted off the plane in groups by the Austin Police. Each passenger was required to show their personal hotspot to police officers. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) stated that it takes bomb threats seriously and confirmed that all passengers and their checked baggage were rescreened. Additionally, police and TSA used bomb-sniffing dogs to check both the aircraft and luggage.
After the aircraft and baggage were thoroughly inspected and cleared by authorities, the flight was allowed to depart at approximately 6:15 p.m. local time. Airport officials reported no significant disruptions to other airport operations, aside from the delayed flight.
