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Confusion During Flight to the US Started When Woman Saw Mourning Message on Another Passenger’s Device and Alerted Crew About a Possible Attack, Causing the Aircraft to Return.
A flight that departed from San Juan, Puerto Rico, heading to Dallas, United States, had to make an emergency return for a completely unexpected reason. A female passenger, upon seeing a message that read “rest in peace” on the cell phone of the passenger next to her, panicked and alerted the crew, believing it to be a terrorist threat.
The incident, which occurred on July 3rd, mobilized authorities and shows how a misunderstanding can cause great confusion in an environment as sensitive as an airplane.
The False Alarm Onboard
The flight was following its route normally when the passenger peeked at the screen of the device of the man sitting next to her. The phrase “rest in peace” was interpreted by her as a plan to attack the aircraft. Following safety protocols, she immediately communicated her suspicion to the flight attendants.
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Faced with the potential threat, the pilot decided to return to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan so that the situation could be investigated on the ground.
Investigation Reveals the Truth
After the landing, agents from the Puerto Rico Explosives and Public Safety Bureau boarded the aircraft to investigate the report. The investigation, however, quickly revealed that it was all just a big misunderstanding.
Upon speaking with the passenger, authorities discovered the true and sad story behind the message. The man was actually mourning the death of a relative, which had occurred the day before. His trip was actually for the funeral, and the message on his phone was a condolence exchange with other family members.
After the clarification, the situation was controlled and the flight was cleared to continue. The case, although resolved, serves as an unusual reminder of how appearances (and messages) can be deceiving.
What would you have done in the passenger’s place? A comprehensible confusion or an exaggeration? Leave your opinion in the comments!
