An American Airlines flight was delayed by over four hours on Monday after a passenger renamed their WiFi hotspot to “There is a bomb on the flight,” prompting immediate security concerns. Flight 286, bound for Charlotte, North Carolina, was scheduled to depart from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport at 1:42 pm. However, the crew was notified of the alarming hotspot name, causing a significant delay.
Initially, the flight crew cited an “administrative issue” as the reason for the delay. However, it was later revealed by the pilot that the delay stemmed from the disturbing WiFi hotspot name. Passenger Bruce Steen, 63, reported that the pilot explained the situation, saying that the delay was due to a passenger’s hotspot with the bomb threat message.
In response, the police arrived at the scene and instructed the passengers to evacuate the plane for a thorough security check. They urged the person responsible for the WiFi hotspot name to come forward, warning that it would be handled much differently if it were just a “practical joke.” However, no one claimed responsibility, forcing the police to check every passenger’s hotspot individually.
Passengers were then escorted to a designated area where they underwent additional screenings by security personnel. Their bags were also removed from the aircraft and re-inspected, while bomb-sniffing dogs were brought in to assist. In addition, the aircraft itself was thoroughly swept for explosives. The re-screening process delayed the flight until about 6:15 pm.
A spokesperson from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) confirmed the seriousness of the situation, stating, “All passengers and their checked baggage were rescreened.” The Austin Police Department clarified that the incident did not cause any major disruption to airport operations.
While the situation was resolved without incident, the authorities took all necessary precautions, underscoring the importance of handling bomb threats with the utmost seriousness.
