Alaska Airlines Flight 334 Diverted to GEG

Alaska Airlines Flight 334—a 737 MAX-9, registration N948AK—bound from Atlanta’s Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport (ATL) to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) diverted to Washington State’s Spokane International Airport (GEG) after an as-of-yet unnamed passenger seated in the 737’s first-class section made a direct threat against the aircraft and its occupants.

The 05 July flight was uneventful until the aforementioned passenger handed a flight-attendant a receipt, on which he’d written:

"This is not a joke. Several pounds of homemade explosives are in my carry-on bag. I have a detonator with me. Handle this matter carefully and exactly how I say, otherwise I will detonate the explosives and kill everyone onboard. Many innocent lives are in your hands."

The note demanded the aircraft be rerouted to any airport other than SEA, and further instructed the flight-attendant to alert the 737’s flight-crew and air traffic controllers of the bomb threat while concealing such from the remainder of the flight’s passengers and flight-attendants.

Ironically, the passenger set forth in the note that he would surrender willingly and peacefully upon the aircraft’s arrival at any destination other than Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

The note concluded:

"Once we have rerouted I expect an announcement. That way I know my demand have [sic] been met. Pretend there is some sort of equipment problems or whatever you have to do. Just get this plane rerouted. Failure to comply will cost the lives of everyone on this plane. I have nothing left to lose."

Alaska Airlines Flight 334 was subsequently rerouted to Spokane International Airport—some 194-nautical-miles east of SEA. Upon landing, the 737 taxied to a remote section of GEG’s ramp, where all passengers were hurriedly disembarked and transported to a nearby fire station.

A responding bomb-squad searched the aircraft, the passenger who’d issued the threat, and his baggage, yet turned up no explosives.

The incident occasioned a one-hour-plus shutdown of GEG.

Law enforcement personnel promptly arrested the bomb-scare’s perpetrator and remanded him to the custody of federal agents, by whom he was vigorously questioned.

Under interrogation, the passenger claimed he was being targeted by Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, members of which, he asserted, were waiting in Seattle to abduct, torture, and kill him.

Fearing for his life and preferring incarceration to death at the hands of cartel killers, the individual made the bomb threat.

The perpetrator explained he’d considered alternative means by which to divert the flight—including assaulting a flight-attendant or opening an emergency-exit—but opted to make the bomb threat insomuch as he felt it represented the highest likelihood of success.

The offending individual is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals, safe from the Sinaloa Cartel and rightly relieved of both his immediate worries and his freedom.

A 06 July Federal Court proceeding saw the man charged with rendering false information/perpetrating a hoax. A further hearing on the matter is scheduled for 19 July.

If convicted, the individual faces up to five-years in prison and a possible fine of up to $250,000—penalties his traumatized fellow passengers and Flight 334’s cockpit- and cabin-crews likely consider excessively lenient.

The incident came less than three months after Alaska Airlines Flight 456 from San Francisco (SFO) to Chicago O’Hare (ORD) was forced to divert to Kansas City International Airport (MCI) on account of passenger Chloe DaSilva, 32, threatening to kill a flight-attendant.

FMI: www.alaskaair.com