Panic in the sky: American Airlines flight diverted after passenger triggers alarm — what we know

A message of grief led to sudden panic on board American Airlines Flight 1847 this week, forcing the plane to turn back midair shortly after departing from San Juan en route to Dallas Fort Worth, as per a report.

Grief Mistaken for Threat Sparks Midair Diversion on American Airlines Flight

The sudden diversion took place after a passenger saw their seatmate receive a text message with the letters "R.I.P," as per a People report. The acronym, usually short for "rest in peace," was thought to be a potential threat to the flight, and so the passenger informed the crew, according to the report.

Swift Action Prioritized Safety

Almost 30 minutes into the flight from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, the pilot had the aircraft turned around, deeming safety and procedure a priority, as per the People report. The Airbus A319, which was carrying 193 passengers, was safely back on the ground in San Juan, where the airport security personnel and the Transportation Security Administration, inspected the aircraft and interviewed the passenger involved, as reported by Primera Hora.


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Airline Confirms Incident and Resolution

A spokesperson for American Airlines said that, "American Airlines flight 1847, with service from San Juan (SJU) to Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), returned to SJU shortly after departure due to a possible security concern," as quoted by People in its report.

The spokesperson also said that "The flight landed safely at SJU, and law enforcement inspected and cleared the aircraft to re-depart. Safety and security are our top priorities and we apologize to our customers for the inconvenience," as quoted in the report.

Investigation Reveals The Context

Aerostar's deputy director of security, Félix Alvarado, who investigated the message, which was a potential threat, revealed that the passenger who received the message proved that a relative had died the day before, adding that they were on the flight after leaving their vacation early, according to Primera Hora.

Aerostar's director of operations, Nelman Nevárez, said that "It was a mix-up that was handled in accordance with safety protocols. There was no real threat to the flight or its passengers," as quoted by People in its report.

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FAQs

Why did the plane turn around after takeoff?
A passenger misunderstood a text message containing “R.I.P.” as a threat, leading the crew to prioritize safety and return the flight to San Juan.

Was there ever an actual threat on the plane?
No, after investigation, authorities confirmed there was no real threat to the flight or passengers.