NEED TO KNOW
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An American Airlines flight diverted back to Puerto Rico after a passenger oversaw another passenger receive a cryptic text message
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The passenger assumed it was a threat to the flight, and the plane was diverted “due to a possible security concern,” a spokesperson for the airline tells PEOPLE
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The flight resumed its course to Dallas after the text was determined not to be a threat
An American Airlines flight diverted back to San Juan, Puerto Rico, after a passenger misinterpreted a text message they oversaw next to them.
A passenger saw their seat neighbor receive a text message that read “R.I.P.” (the acronym commonly used for “rest in peace”) and assumed it was a threat to the flight, according to Puerto Rico’s Office of Explosives and Public Safety. Local outlet Primera Ahora was first to report the news.
A spokesperson for American Airlines tells PEOPLE, “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.”
“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,” the statement continued,
American Airlines flight 1847 took off from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in Isla Verde. The flight was headed for Dallas, but ultimately returned to San Juan amid the perceived threat about 30 minutes after taking off.
Aerostar’s deputy director of security, Félix Alvarado, investigated the message as a potential threat. 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, per Primera Hora.
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“It was a mix-up that was handled in accordance with safety protocols. There was no real threat to the flight or its passengers,” Nelman Nevárez, Aerostar’s director of operations, told Primera Hora in an interview translated from Spanish to English.
The plane, which carried 193 passengers, resumed its route and prepared for takeoff at 10 a.m. local time.
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The post American Airlines Flight Diverted After Passenger Misinterprets Seat Neighbor’s Text appeared first on People.
