American Airlines Flight Diverts Puerto Rico Dallas After False Bomb Threat

An American Airlines flight from San Juan to Dallas was forced to divert back to San Juan shortly after takeoff due to a passenger misinterpreting a text message. The passenger observed a seatmate receive a message containing the acronym "RIP" and assumed it was a bomb threat, prompting the crew to declare an emergency and return the flight. Upon landing, authorities investigated and confirmed that the message was a condolence text related to a recent family death, not a threat. The incident caused a delay of approximately 3.5 hours, but no credible danger was found, and the flight resumed safely after clearance. Officials described the event as a misunderstanding handled following safety protocols, highlighting the balance between caution and overreaction in airline security. The diversion sparked debate over the role of passenger vigilance versus misinterpretation in security incidents.