Bomb Threat Forces Emergency Landing at St. Pete–Clearwater Airport; One in Custody

Bomb Threat Forces Emergency Landing of Allegiant Flight Departing St. Pete–Clearwater Airport

A flight departing from St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport and bound for Roanoke, Virginia, was forced to return to the airport on Sunday afternoon after a passenger allegedly made a bomb threat. The incident occurred shortly after takeoff when two passengers became involved in a verbal altercation. A flight crew member attempted to intervene, during which one of the passengers reportedly claimed there was a bomb on board.

The flight, operated by Allegiant Air, had taken off around 2:05 p.m. but quickly turned back after the threat was made. Upon landing, law enforcement met the aircraft and took the suspect into custody. The plane was thoroughly searched, and no explosive device was found. Authorities confirmed that there was no ongoing threat to the public or the airport.

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation and has classified the incident as a bomb threat. The suspect’s identity has not yet been released, and charges are pending. No injuries were reported, and all passengers were safely deplaned.

Allegiant Air issued a statement confirming the disruption and emphasized that the safety of passengers and crew is their top priority. The airline is cooperating fully with law enforcement. Due to federal regulations regarding crew duty hours, the flight was delayed until a replacement crew could be arranged.

Passengers described the experience as unsettling but praised the crew for handling the situation calmly and professionally. Airport operations were briefly affected but returned to normal later in the day.

This incident adds to a growing number of in-flight disturbances across the country, prompting renewed discussions about aviation safety and passenger conduct. Authorities continue to investigate the motive behind the threat and are urging the public to take all safety protocols seriously when flying.