When you fight with your partner, it’s generally a good idea not to accuse the other of having a bomb… especially when on an airline flight. I happen to think this particular Breeze Airways flight diversion was unnecessary, but the couple has only themselves to blame.
Breeze Airways Flight Diverts After Bickering Couple Resort To Bomb Threats
A couple traveling from Orlando (MCO) to Providence (PVD) on Breeze Airways flight 717 last night got into a verbal argument before the flight even took off. The fight continued in the air and became so intense that one accused the other of having a bomb while the other accused her man of having weapons.
From a passenger account as noted by CBS 47:
“The guy said I’ll tell people you have a bomb in your bag and she said I’ll tell them you have weapons on you.”
When passengers around them heard this, they naturally alerted flight attendants. Upon consultation with the captain, it was determined that the flight would immediately divert to Jacksonville (JAX). Just 45 minutes after takeoff, the flight touched down in Jacksonville.
Law enforcement officers boarded the aircraft and led the couple off the plane in handcuffs. On his way out, the man (very nicely, I thought) apologized to other passengers for interrupting their travel plans.
Unfortunately, the flight was canceled. Passengers were told to secure their own accommodation and they would be paid back. The flight, operating today as Breeze flight 8717, took off from Jacksonville at 11:30 am this morning.
Was A Diversion Necessary?
There’s such a shocking lack of trust in the TSA.
I got thrown off a flight for saying the word “terrorist” so I know that there are certain words you simply should not say on an airplane.
> Read More: Seven Words You Can Never Say on an Airplane?
Even so, these folks went through TSA security like everyone else. Their bags were searched and they walked through a metal detector or body scanner. By all accounts, the fight was verbal, not physical.
If we have any faith in the TSA, why don’t we trust that they do their jobs?
This was a very costly diversion, not just in monetary terms, but in terms of time for all the passengers onboard.
This strikes me as the type of situation in which “better safe than sorry” is outweighed by a bit of common sense. You tell the passengers to shut up. You separate them. Issue them a warning that they will be arrested in Providence. Zip-tie them if necessary. Gag them. But for goodness sake, the frequency of diversions which seems so unique to the United States and the United Kingdom seems to me to be overkill.
CONCLUSION
A Breeze Airways flight diverted to Jacksonville after a bickering couple resorted to bomb threats. I tend to think the diversion was unnecessary, but the prerogative is always left with the captain and I also at least can understand the better safe than sorry approach.
The couple still have only themselves to blame. I hope Breeze sends them a big bill for all the expenses that resulted from their lack of self-control.
What are your thoughts on this Breeze Airways diversion?
(Hat Tip: PYOK)
My local radio guy was talking about this news this morning. Someone asked: “What is Breeze Airways ?” His response: “An airline that has aspirations to one day become Spirit.” LOL!
You know how many bomb threats in the US have turned out to be real? ZERO! We WAY overreact prompting more hoaxes.
You may want to watch the documentaries about Richard Jewell. Or read about Eric Rudolph, and the Atlanta olympic bombing. Rudolph called in two threats before the bombing, which definitely happened. Many people didn’t take it too seriously, but one security guard, Richard Jewell, did. He found the bomb, and he helped a lot of people clear the area. Over 100 were wounded, two died. Jewell did such a good job that the FBI initially suspected that he had masterminded the whole thing, but he was eventually cleared.
The 2020 Nashville Christmas Day bombing had a threat warning too, that people took seriously and evacuated before the bomb went off. Watch the footage of that bomb– if people hadn’t cleared that area, there would be many dead.
But that couple had already been cleared by the TSA.
That doesn’t change the fact that the statement that ZERO bomb threats in the US are credible is inaccurate.
As for TSA screening being foolproof:
https://www.wral.com/story/travelers-stunned-tsa-stumped-how-man-s-gun-made-it-onto-plane-from-rdu-to-nashville/20691206/
That’s from this year. Not the first time, and probably won’t be the last.
There have been a number of reports over the years that indicate that in an attempt to test their systems, the TSA intentionally sends firearms through screening to see if they’ll be detected. It’s very clear that the screening system misses some of these firearms– some reports indicate that it’s a large percentage, but as best I can tell the actual numbers are classified.
My suspicion is that if the number of firearms that made it through screening in testing was actually 0% that the number wouldn’t be classified. But, that’s just me speculating.
The man is not guilty. He did not say that his wife had a bomb in her bag. He threatened to tell someone that she had balm, and more than a 3 oz. size, in her bag. He should be released from custody.
OMG ….. dude, I’ll give you that one. made me lol.
I agree it is overkill, except I would also postulate that there’s a legal argument to be made that they shouldn’t be charged with a crime or even liability.
The bickering couple said they were threatening to each other to lie to an FA about the other spouse having weapons. The only charge I can see that would apply to be conspiracy to interfere with a flight crews duties but this would only apply if their argument was meant to act cooperatively (which they weren’t.) For example, am I to be charged with conspiracy for even talking about this topic at this moment? I suppose their bickering could be a charge for “disorderly conduct” but this begs the question as to whether this is sufficient to justify holding them responsible for the pilot’s decision to divert the aircraft.
I’m reminded of when the FA panicked when Matt used the word “terrorist” in the context of him saying he was NOT one.
Tis the season to be stupid. I too think the diversion was a bit much for a bickering couple, but it’s not my call. Hope they enjoyed that very expensive argument.
Not surprised Breeze just blew off the passengers once they got to Jacksonville.
You get what you pay for!!
Why was the flight cancelled – did the crew time out after the extra hour?
Seems like it. Was near the end of the day so they probably had already flown at least one other leg.
Breeze has only responded that more details will be forthcoming.
In the litigious society that is the usa you can’t blame an airline for erring on the side of caution. The two idiot pax, OTOH, need the book thrown at them, nice apology or not.
Further news. He was arraigned this morning:
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The 41-year-old man who was arrested and caused a Breeze Airways flight from Orlando to divert to the Jacksonville International Airport was charged with violating an injunction his ex-fiancé filed against him.
According to a criminal complaint, Evan Sims is now facing a charge of making a false bomb threat toward an aircraft.
Sims was in court Wednesday morning following an argument Sims had with his ex-girlfriend on the plane that sparked concerns about a possible “bomb threat.”
Sims was also accused of using the word “bomb” during the argument with his ex-fiancé on Flight 717, which was carrying hundreds of passengers on board.
Passengers told News4JAX that they heard the word “bomb” used during the argument between the two. Sims told the judge in court that he didn’t say bomb. Instead, he said he used the word “calm.”
“I said she needed some calm because she wanted to move seats,” Sims said to the judge.
The complaint, however, said that Sims stated two times that he had a bomb on the plane amid the argument with the woman.”