A message scrawled on a bathroom mirror resulted in a flight between Hawaii and California being diverted this week. Another flight between the two states was also halted due to a bomb threat.
“United flight 1169 from Honolulu to Los Angeles returned safely to Honolulu after a potential security concern was found written on a lavatory mirror,” a United spokesperson said, per a report in The Guardian. “Law enforcement met the aircraft, and a security sweep was conducted.”
According to a report from the Los Angeles Times, United Airlines 1169 departed from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu around 9:40 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time Tuesday, headed to Los Angeles. FlightAware data shows that the flight instead returned to Honolulu around an hour after it took off.
Per The Guardian’s report, all 339 passengers and 10 crew members made it back to Honolulu. All of the passengers were rebooked on later flights, the outlet added.
Another flight, headed to Honolulu from the San Diego International Airport, arrived more than five hours late on Tuesday, FlightAware data shows. A man aboard the flight, United Airlines flight 15, was later arrested by the Port of San Diego Police Department.
A press release from the law enforcement agency revealed that 35-year-old John Stea, a member of the military, was charged with making a false bomb threat and false report of a security threat. Stea allegedly told a flight attendant that the passenger next to him had a bomb.
“The flight attendant informed the captain of the plane about the potential threat as the flight was pulling away from the jetway and getting ready to depart the San Diego International Airport to Honolulu, Hawaii,” the police said.
It was approximately 8:45 a.m. when the Port of San Diego Harbor Police Maritime Tactical Team (MARTAC, also known as SWAT), K-9 Team, and Joint Terrorism Task Force, along with the San Diego Fire Department and multiple federal agencies, responded to search the aircraft and its contents.
All 293 passengers were deplaned and brought to a safe area during the process.
“There is no threat to the public or travelers, and operations at San Diego International Airport are normal,” the police said. “Harbor Police reminds the public that maliciously reporting a false bomb threat is against the law and can result in fines and up to one year incarceration in county jail or state prison if convicted.”