• Another causes scare with social media

Sopuruchi Onwuka, with agency reports

Two separate incidents of bomb scare caused Southwest Airlines to divert a flight between Las Vegas and Hawaii to Oakland; and Alaska Airlines diverted its flight midway from Seattle to Spokane.

The two incidents all in the United States had passengers with personal problems divert the planes to unintended destinations as flight crews took all safety precautions with the advice of security agencies.

Alaska Airlines Flight 334 from Atlanta to Seattle was ultimately rerouted to Spokane International Airport after a first class passenger told crew he would detonate a bomb unless the plane was diverted, claiming that a killer squad was waiting for him at the scheduled destination.

He told authorities after the planed had successfully landed that he thought cartel enforcers were waiting for him.

An FBI affidavit says he handed a flight attendant a note threatening to “kill everyone on board.” And the flight was diverted from Seattle, where the man told authorities that cartel enforcers were waiting.

According to a report by Insider, the man identified in an FBI affidavit as Brandon L. Scott is said to have handed an Alaska Airlines flight attendant a note written on a receipt during a Wednesday flight to Seattle.

The affidavit quotes the note as saying: “There is a bomb on the plane. 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 on board.

“Many innocent lives are in your hands, do as I demand and everyone will live. Deviate and the consequences will be deadly for all of us. I have nothing left to lose.”

The note then apparently said the man’s demands were “simple”: For the plane to land at any other airport.

“If this plane lands in Seattle, I will kill everyone onboard,” it said, according to the FBI. “Change our destination and I will refrain from detonating the bomb. I repeat, if I see us land in Seattle, I will kill every soul on this plane.”

The note also is said to have told the flight attendant to tell the pilot and no one else: “Once we have been rerouted I expect an announcement. That way I know my demands have been met. Pretend there is some sort of equipment problem or whatever you have to do. Just get this plane rerouted. Failure to comply will cost the lives of everyone on this plane.”

The note added he would surrender peacefully on landing if the flight was diverted, the affidavit said.

Alaska Airlines Flight 334 from Atlanta to Seattle was ultimately rerouted to Spokane International Airport, about a four-hour drive east of Seattle, after the flight attendant told the captain, who spoke with air-traffic control and the airline’s security team, the affidavit said.

The passenger was then detained by law enforcement, it said. He was interviewed by special agents and was said to have described being targeted by the Sinaloa Cartel.

The US identifies the Sinaloa Cartel as being among the world’s most dangerous drug traffickers, and it plays a major role in the US fentanyl drug trade.

The affidavit says Scott told authorities that cartel members were waiting at the Seattle airport to torture and kill him and that the fake bomb threat was his way of escaping them.

The airport’s bomb squad investigated the plane but didn’t find any explosive devices or materials, the affidavit said.

Scott was said to have told authorities after his arrest that he had considered other ways to get the flight diverted, including assaulting a flight attendant or opening the cabin door.

Scott appeared in federal court Thursday in Spokane, where the judge entered a denial of charges of conveying false information or hoaxes, local outlet The Spokesman-Review reported.

If convicted he faces up to five years in prison, the outlet said.

Neither the FBI nor Alaska Airlines responded to requests for comment from Insider made outside business hours.

In a separate incident, Southwest Airlines diverted a flight between Las Vegas and Hawaii to Oakland after a passenger used Apple’s AirDrop feature to share a photo with other people on board that suggested there was a bomb on the plane, police said.

The FBI and local police launched investigation.

 Lt. Tya Modeste told local Mercury News that the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office received a tip that somebody on Southwest Airlines flight 3316 had shared the image with other passengers. And a flight attendant also received photos via AirDrop.

Southwest diverted the plane about 1 hour and 50 minutes into the flight, with the plane eventually landing at Oakland International Airport at around 12:49 p.m., data from the flight-tracking website FlightAware shows.

Alameda County deputies met the plane to help passengers evacuate.

“Oakland Airport Operations, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and APS evacuated the aircraft and, with the utilization of EOD canines, a thorough search was conducted of all persons aboard the flight, as well as their personal belongings and luggage,” sources said.

The police did not locate any explosive materials.

No suspects are in custody, but the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI are investigating.

In a statement, Southwest Airlines said: “Safety is our guiding focus and we’re grateful for patience and understanding during this delayed journey to Hawaii.”