SAN DIEGO – A Hawaiian Airlines flight bound for Honolulu was evacuated at San Diego International Airport on Tuesday morning following a passenger’s bomb threat hoax that triggered a full-scale emergency response from local, federal, and military authorities.
Military Member Accused of Fabricating Threat
Authorities say the suspect, identified as 35-year-old John Stea, a U.S. Navy Electronics Technician 2nd Class, was taken into custody after allegedly telling a flight attendant that the person seated next to him had a bomb. Officials later confirmed that no explosive device was found onboard.
Stea, who is assigned to the Navy’s Maritime Expeditionary Security Group One, was charged with two misdemeanor offenses: making a false bomb threat and filing a false report of a security threat. According to the Port of San Diego Harbor Police, he was not booked into jail due to the nature of the charges and was instead released to Navy custody.
“The safety of the public and our personnel is of utmost importance to the Navy,” said Lt. Mohammad N. Issa, a spokesperson for the Navy, in a statement. “We take all threats seriously and are cooperating fully with local and federal authorities.”
Flight Aborted Moments After Pushback
Flight HA15, an Airbus A330 carrying 283 passengers and 10 crew members, had just left the gate at approximately 8:45 a.m. when the flight attendant relayed the threat to the captain. Following airline protocols, the captain diverted the aircraft to a secure area of the airfield and notified authorities.
Emergency responders, including the Harbor Police SWAT team, K-9 units, the Joint Terrorism Task Force, FBI agents, and the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, swiftly surrounded the aircraft. All passengers and crew were safely evacuated using rolling staircases and transported by shuttle buses to a secure location for screening.
Video footage from local media showed dozens of emergency vehicles, including unmarked federal SUVs, converging on the aircraft. The front cabin door remained open as security teams conducted a thorough inspection.
No Credible Threat Found
After extensive searches and interviews, investigators concluded that the threat was not credible and posed no actual danger to public safety. The FBI confirmed there was no explosive device onboard and classified the incident as a false alarm.
“We continue to urge the public to remain vigilant and report all suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately,” the FBI said in a statement.
Normal Operations Resume at SAN
Despite the disruption, operations at San Diego International Airport remained largely unaffected. According to FlightAware, flight delays were minimal and only one cancellation was reported by mid-morning. Airport officials confirmed that other departing flights proceeded on schedule.
The affected Hawaiian Airlines jet was cleared for service and reboarded in the afternoon. Flight HA15 took off for Honolulu at approximately 2:15 p.m., several hours behind schedule but without further incident.
Legal Proceedings Pending
The Harbor Police Department is continuing its investigation and plans to forward the case to the City Attorney’s Office to determine next steps for prosecution. Given the involvement of a military service member, coordination between civilian and military legal channels is ongoing.
Passengers impacted by the disruption were offered support by Hawaiian Airlines, which issued a statement expressing appreciation for the swift response by emergency personnel and reaffirming its commitment to passenger safety.
Safety and Vigilance Remain Top Priority
Tuesday’s incident serves as a reminder of the seriousness with which law enforcement and the aviation industry treat any perceived threat. While this case turned out to be a false alarm, the coordinated response underscored the high stakes of air travel security.
“This article was written by Mathew Owen. AI tools were used lightly for grammar and formatting, but the ideas, words, and edits are all mine.”
