A U.S. Navy technician, John Stea, 35, was busted for making a bogus bomb threat on a Hawaiian Airlines flight preparing to depart from San Diego. The Port of San Diego Harbor Police Department revealed that Stea was apprehended following the incident on Tuesday. The suspect claimed that the passenger next to him had a bomb while on board Hawaiian Airlines flight 15 as it was getting ready to take off from San Diego International Airport to Honolulu, Hawaii.
The spokesperson for the U.S. Third Fleet shared that Electronics Technician 1st Class John Stea, assigned to Maritime Expeditionary Security Group One, was nabbed by San Diego Harbor Police on May 20 for the alleged bomb threat. The safety of the public and Navy personnel is a top priority, and all threats are taken seriously by the Navy, cooperating fully with local and federal authorities. The Port of San Diego Harbor Police Maritime Tactical Team, K-9 Team, Joint Terrorism Task Force, San Diego Fire Department, and multiple federal agencies responded to the scene to conduct a thorough search of the aircraft and its contents.
The plane captain managed to taxi to a safe spot on the airfield, and all 293 individuals on board were evacuated and transported by bus to a secure area. K-9 units swept through the aircraft, checking all carry-on and checked baggage. Stea, identified as a member of the military, faced charges of making a false bomb threat and a false report of a security threat. Isai Solorzano, another Navy sailor on the flight, recounted the events, stating that law enforcement officers boarded the plane and inquired about the owners of specific containers. One individual was promptly handcuffed and taken away by authorities.
