American Airlines Flight Delayed Over Wi-Fi Prank

An American Airlines flight from Austin, Texas, to Charlotte, North Carolina, was delayed for nearly five hours due to a passenger's Wi-Fi hotspot name that read, 'There is a bomb on the flight.' The pilot initially cited an 'administrative issue' before authorities, including the Austin Police Department and the TSA, conducted a security sweep. All passengers were deboarded, rescreened, and had their personal hotspots checked by police. Despite the alarming message, the threat was deemed non-credible, and no one confessed to the prank. The flight eventually departed around 6:15 p.m., and no significant disruptions to other airport operations were reported. This incident is part of a broader context of heightened aviation security since 9/11.