American Airlines Flight Delayed After Passenger Names WiFi Hotspot ‘There Is a Bomb on the Flight’

An American Airlines flight from Austin to Charlotte was delayed for hours after a passenger named their WiFi hotspot “There is a bomb on the flight,” triggering a full security investigation.

The incident occurred on February 7 aboard Flight 2863 at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Passengers were forced to deplane, undergo additional screenings, and have their electronic devices checked by police before the flight was cleared to depart.

Bruce Steen, a 63-year-old passenger from Charlotte, North Carolina, was on board when the situation unfolded, according to ABC News. According to Steen, a young man approached a flight attendant with a tablet, showing her something that immediately raised concerns.

The flight attendant notified the cockpit, and soon after, the pilot announced that the flight was returning to the gate due to an “administrative issue.”

Authorities, including the Austin Police Department (APD) and the Department of Aviation, were quickly notified of the security concern.

After a brief wait, the pilot informed passengers that “somebody renamed their hotspot” to read: “There is a bomb on the flight.”

A lieutenant from Austin PD boarded the aircraft and addressed the passengers, making it clear that the situation was being taken seriously.

“If this is a joke, please raise your hand now, because we can deal with the practical joke differently than if we have to do a full-blown investigation,” the officer warned.

When no one admitted responsibility, authorities took further action.

APD officers escorted passengers off the plane in groups and required each traveler to show their hotspot names to verify who was responsible.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) confirmed that all passengers and their luggage were rescreened, emphasizing that the agency “takes bomb threats very seriously.”

A bomb-sniffing K-9 unit searched all baggage, and police inspected the plane’s cargo hold before clearing the flight for departure.

Following the investigation, authorities found no explosives or credible threats, and the plane was allowed to take off around 6:15 p.m.—almost five hours after its original departure time.