A 10-year-old passenger’s prank resulted in a police response at Orlando Airport.
Alaska Airlines flight AS16 was flying from Seattle to Orlando when operation staff at Orlando International Airport (MCO) received a tip from Alaska Airlines staff that there was a possible incident on board flight 16, which left Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) at 09:15 local time.
Federal sources advised local media that a 10-year-old passenger on the flight had used AirDrop to send a message to another passenger. The message contained information that prompted Alaska Airlines to call police authorities, who waited for the aircraft to land at Orlando International Airport.
According to passengers on board the flight, the aircraft stood on the tarmac for about an hour, before a family was escorted from the plane by police.
Alaska Airlines released the following statement regarding the incident: “After Alaska Airlines flight 16 from Seattle landed in Orlando, it parked remotely because of a potential threat that was later deemed non-credible. Police boarded and cleared the aircraft. The plane continued to its gate and passengers deplaned as normal. We take safety seriously and we apologize for the inconvenience to our guests.”
No arrests were made.
