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2d ago

Navy Technician Charged After Bomb Threat Grounds Hawaiian Airlines Flight

John Stea, 35, was arrested for making a false bomb threat that led to the evacuation and search of a San Diego-to-Honolulu flight, which later departed safely.

A Hawaiian Airlines airplane sits on the tarmac after an evacuation Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at the San Diego International Airport in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
A Hawaiian Airlines airplane sits on the tarmac after an evacuation on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at the San Diego International Airport in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Hawaiian Airlines airplanes sit idle on the runway at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.

Overview

  • Hawaiian Airlines Flight 15 was evacuated at San Diego International Airport on May 20, 2025, after a passenger allegedly made a bomb threat during pushback.
  • John Stea, a U.S. Navy electronics technician, was arrested and charged with making a false bomb threat and falsely reporting a security threat.
  • Authorities, including SWAT, K-9 units, the FBI, and the Joint Terrorism Task Force, conducted a thorough search of the Airbus A330 but found no explosives or suspicious items.
  • All 293 passengers and crew were safely deplaned and later reboarded the aircraft, which departed for Honolulu with a five-hour delay.
  • San Diego International Airport operations continued without disruption, and officials have emphasized the legal consequences of false bomb threats.