Passenger Plane Returns to Puerto Rico After Misinterpreted Text Message Causes Bomb Threat Scare

A passenger plane en route from Puerto Rico to the United States was forced to return after a passenger misread a text message on another traveler’s phone. The New York Post reported that the American Airlines flight was traveling from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Dallas, Texas. The plane, which took off early Thursday morning, had to land back in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico, about 30 minutes after departure.

The emergency landing was prompted by a text message that one passenger saw on another passenger’s phone and misinterpreted as a threat.

The message in question was “RIP” (Rest in Peace), which one passenger thought was a threat to the plane and immediately reported to the cabin crew. The plane landed under suspicion of a bomb threat before reaching Dallas.

Puerto Rican authorities questioned the passenger who received the message. It was revealed that the passenger had lost a loved one the day before and was traveling to Dallas for that reason. The Explosives and Public Safety Office confirmed that there was no threat to the plane. Following the investigation, the plane took off again from Puerto Rico and arrived in Texas on Friday. The airline did not respond to the newspaper’s request for comment.