An American Airlines flight was forced to return to San Juan, Puerto Rico after a passenger misinterpreted a fellow traveler’s text message as a potential threat. The incident occurred shortly after takeoff on Friday when flight 1847, en route from San Juan to Dallas-Fort Worth, was diverted due to a misunderstanding.
According to Puerto Rico’s Office of Explosives and Public Safety, a passenger noticed a neighboring traveler receive a message containing the abbreviation “R.I.P.” commonly understood as “rest in peace.” Interpreting it as a possible threat to the flight, the concerned passenger alerted authorities.
American Airlines confirmed the diversion, stating, “Flight 1847 returned to San Juan shortly after departure due to a possible security concern. The aircraft landed safely, and law enforcement conducted an inspection before clearing the plane for departure. Safety and security are our highest priorities, and we apologize for the inconvenience.”
The Airbus A319 had departed from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport but turned back roughly 30 minutes after takeoff. The flight, carrying 193 passengers, was temporarily grounded while the situation was investigated. Félix Alvarado, deputy director of security for airport operator Aerostar, examined the message and determined it was not a threat. The individual who received the text explained that a relative had recently passed away, and they had cut their vacation short to return home.
“It was a misunderstanding handled in accordance with established safety procedures. There was no actual threat to the aircraft or those on board,” said Nelman Nevárez, Aerostar’s director of operations, speaking to local news outlet Primera Hora. After the aircraft was cleared, it was rescheduled for departure at 10 AM local time.
Naman Trivedi author
Naman is a copy editor at Times Now, with over three years experience in covering US News, politics, global affairs, sports, and other domains. Apart …View More
