JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two people were arrested after a flight from Orlando was diverted because of an alleged bomb threat that passengers said they overheard during an argument, according to News 6 partner WJXT.
Breeze Airways flight 717 lifted off from Orlando to make its way to Providence, Rhode Island, when it had to make an emergency stop at the Jacksonville International Airport. Passengers said a couple got into an argument right before the flight took off.
One passenger said a man told the woman that he wanted to get off the plane. The flight was in the air for 45 minutes, according to passengers, when the captain decided to divert the plane to Jacksonville around 5:30 p.m. because the word “bomb” was mentioned during the argument.
“The people were talking about or claiming the other person had a bomb during their fight. The people around them heard the word bomb, reported it to the airline, and they’re obligated to land the plane,” Rachael Corrigan said.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations responded to the incident to ensure the safety of the crew and passengers.
“A dad and his daughter got up and walked back and said, ‘We asked to get moved because someone was talking about a bomb that they had,’” Tanya McGinn said.
Video shared by a passenger showed the man apologizing to the other passengers as he was being placed in handcuffs.
By 8 p.m., the flight was canceled and passengers were allowed to leave the terminal and told their flight would not resume until Wednesday afternoon.
All the passengers who got off the plane were told they would be reimbursed if they got a hotel room.
The couple will likely face federal criminal charges and could be banned from flying on Breeze Airways.
The Federal Aviation Administration released a statement about the incident.
“Breeze Airways Flight 717 landed safely at Jacksonville International Airport around 6 p.m. local time Tuesday, Dec. 5, after the crew reported a passenger disturbance. The Airbus A220 departed from Orlando International Airport and was en route to Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport. The FAA will investigate. Please contact the airline and local authorities for more information.”
FAA
Breeze Airways around noon Wednesday released the following statement:
Breeze flight #717 from Orlando, FL to Providence, RI was diverted last evening to Jacksonville, FL after an argument escalated between two Guests onboard resulting in a perceived security threat. Local law enforcement met the plane and safely deplaned all Guests and Breeze Team Members.
Safety is our top priority and we take threats of any kind very seriously. We are committed to assisting law enforcement with the investigation into this incident.
Breeze provided overnight accommodations for all impacted Guests, who are now flying onto Providence. The flight is expected to land at approximately 2:22 p.m.
Breeze Airways
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