Plane Forced to Make Emergency Landing After Passenger Says His Laptop Is ‘a Bomb
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The incident occurred during an Allegiant flight from Florida to Virginia on Sunday, July 6
By Escher Walcott
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Taj Taylor; llegiant Air Airbus A319-112 aircraft
On Sunday, July 6, Taj Taylor, 27, was arrested after he allegedly told a passenger during a flight that his laptop was a bomb
The Allegiant flight heading to Virginia was forced to make an emergency landing back in Florida after the threats were allegedly made
Taylor faces up to five years in prison and a fine of $25,000 for the incident
A man is under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation after he allegedly told a passenger during a flight that his laptop was a bomb.
At approximately 2:03 p.m. on Sunday, July 6, deputies responded to “a verbal bomb threat” allegedly made by passenger Taj Taylor, 27, on Allegiant Flight 1023 while flying to Roanoke, Virginia, from Florida, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office stated in a news release.
“Detectives assigned to the Threat Management Division are assisting with a bomb threat investigation that occurred on an Allegiant flight,” said PCSO. “Detectives learned that passenger, Taj Taylor, told another passenger that his laptop was a bomb. The passenger immediately notified the flight attendants.”
According to detectives, “several” people on board the plane also heard Taylor allegedly say that “he had a bomb.” The plane then made an emergency landing at St. Pete-Clearwater Airport in Florida at approximately 2:08 p.m. local time, per the release.
Taylor’s belongings were searched, though “no bomb was found,” said PCSO.
Taj Taylor
Taj Taylor.
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
An Allegiant Air spokesperson said in a statement, per USA Today, "Allegiant does not tolerate disruptive behavior of any kind, so the decision was made to return to the airport. The plane landed safely and was met by law enforcement officers, who took the passenger into custody. We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused our passengers and thank them for their patience.”
Taylor was arrested at 11:23 p.m. local time on Sunday before being released the next day, according to an arrest report obtained by PEOPLE.
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Taylor allegedly told authorities that he was “recently released from a mental health facility” and "took his medication last night and was currently suffering from a lack of clarity,” according to the FBI affidavit obtained by USA Today and the New York Post.
Taylor didn’t admit to making bomb threats on the plane but mentioned that the woman he sat next to was “rude to him," per the outlets.
According to his Instagram profile, Taylor is a seminary student at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, a clergyman, and an Air Force veteran. NYP reported that Taylor also played football in high school and suffered a severe Grade 3 concussion while playing as a sophomore in 2013.
Allegiant Air Airbus A319 aircraft
Taylor is charged with making a false bomb threat, facing a possible fine of up to $25,000 and a prison sentence of up to five years, per USA Today.
The flight later took off again for Roanoke after a new crew boarded the plane, Daily Mail reported. Passengers were issued $100 vouchers for future travel, per USA Today.
PEOPLE has reached out to Allegiant Airlines and the FBI for comment but did not immediately hear back.
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