Hawaiian Airlines plane evacuated after U.S Navy servicemember made bomb threat, officials say
John Stea, 35, was charged with making a false bomb threat and falsely reporting a security threat, the Port of San Diego Harbor Police Department said Tuesday.
A U.S. Navy public affairs officer told NBC News that Stea, a first-class electronics technician, is assigned to Maritime Expeditionary Security Group One.
The Airbus A330 bound for Honolulu had just started pulling away from the tarmac at around 8:45 a.m. Tuesday, when 'the flight attendant informed the captain of the plane about the potential threat,' said police.
The suspect is alleged to have told a flight attendant on board Hawaiian Airlines Flight HA15 that 'the passenger next to him had a bomb'.
The flight attendant quickly informed the captain, forcing all 293 people onboard to deplane and be transported by bus to a safe area.
Officials said Police K-9s were brought on board to clear the aircraft and check all carry-on and checked luggage.
Nothing of concern was found on board.
Police said there were no further threats to the public at San Diego International Airport, and operations continued normally for the rest of the day.
'Harbor Police reminds the public that maliciously reporting a false bomb threat is against the law and can result in fines and up to one year's incarceration in county jail or state prison if convicted,' the statement read.
The incident was responded to by the Port of San Diego Harbor Police Maritime Tactical SWAT team, the K-9 team, the Joint Terrorism Task Force, and the San Diego Fire Department to attend the scene.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
.jpg%3Ftrim%3D0%2C1%2C0%2C0%26width%3D1200%26height%3D800%26crop%3D1200%3A800&w=3840&q=100)
The Independent
3 minutes ago
- The Independent
US sailor convicted of espionage for leaking warship data to China
A US Navy sailor has been convicted of espionage for selling classified information about American warships and their vulnerabilities to a Chinese agent. Jinchao Wei, 25, also known as Patrick Wei, was arrested in August 2023. He served as a machinist's mate aboard the USS Essex, a major amphibious assault ship at Naval Base San Diego, home to the Pacific Fleet. A US district court in San Diego found him guilty on six counts, including conspiracy to commit espionage and violations of the Arms Export Control Act. It is the first time the serious espionage statute, usually reserved for the gravest betrayals, has been applied in Southern California. The conviction in the case, prosecutors say, highlights the extent of China's efforts to infiltrate America's armed forces. However, Beijing denied these allegations and accused US media of amplifying espionage cases against China as part of a smear campaign. Wei, who will be sentenced on 1 December, is likely to face a maximum possible sentence of life in prison. Wei was recruited in February 2022 through social media by a Chinese agent posing as a 'naval enthusiast' from the state-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation. Within days, he confided to a fellow sailor that he suspected he was dealing with a spy, describing the contact as 'extremely suspicious' and reportedly said: 'This is quite obviously f***ing espionage.' He told the fellow sailor that the man was 'interested in the maintenance cycle of naval ships' and wanted him to 'walk the pier' to 'see which ships are docked' on a 'daily basis'. Despite recognising the danger, he continued, moving communications onto encrypted apps and accepting monthly payments of around $500. Prosecutors said Wei provided his Chinese handler – whom he called 'Big Brother Andy' – with thousands of pages of technical and operational manuals about US Navy surface warfare ships, as well as photographs, videos and details of the Essex's weapons, propulsion and steering systems. He also reported the location and condition of ships docked at Naval Base San Diego. Over 18 months, Wei sold at least 60 restricted Navy manuals, many marked with export-control warnings, and shared detailed descriptions of his ship's vulnerabilities. His handler offered him perks, including a trip to China with his mother, while instructing him to use disappearing messages, burner devices and coded payment methods. When FBI agents arrested him in August 2023 as he reported for duty on the Essex, Wei admitted: 'I'm scr***d'. In a subsequent interview, he conceded that he had been committing 'espionage'. US Attorney for the southern district of California, Adam Gordon, said: 'The defendant's actions represent an egregious betrayal of the trust placed in him as a member of the US military. 'By trading military secrets to the People's Republic of China for cash, he jeopardised not only the lives of his fellow sailors but also the security of the entire nation and our allies.' Sean Jones, Wei's lawyer, said his client was weighing an appeal. While conceding that Wei had acted improperly, Mr Jones argued he should not have been prosecuted under the Espionage Act, according to The Washington Post. 'There was clearly substantial evidence of my client's inappropriate communications with his contact in China,' Mr Jones said. 'However, the testimony, evidence and even the arguments of the government attorneys made it absolutely clear that Jinchao harboured no anti-American sentiment or intent to harm the USA. He was manipulated by someone he thought was a friend, and betrayed his better judgment.' The FBI said the case underscored 'the lengths to which the People's Republic of China will go to undermine our country's security.' A text exchange between Wei and his mother revealed she was aware of his illegal activities and even encouraged them, suggesting it could help him secure a job with the Chinese government someday. 'Other Chinese serving in the US Navy are still trying to figure out how to make extra money, and driving cabs. Whereas I am just leaking secrets,' Wei texted his mother. She responded: 'Good job!' Wei was arrested along with Wenheng Zhao, 26, for receiving $14,866 in bribes in exchange for secret military information from a Chinese intelligence officer during his service at the Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme. He was found guilty and sentenced to 27 months in prison.
The Sun
4 minutes ago
- The Sun
Grotesque paedophile who tried to rape 7-year-old girl agrees to be surgically CASTRATED in deal with prosecutors
A SICK paedophile who tried to rape a seven-year-old girl has agreed to be surgically castrated as part of his plea deal. Serial sex offender Thomas Allen McCartney, 37, accepted the punishment after pleading guilty to first-degree attempted rape of a child under the age of 13. 3 3 The Louisiana native still faces 40 years in prison. McCartney has been designated as a "Tier Three" offender after his grotesque crimes were uncovered. In February 2023, a horrified mum walked in on McCartney "engaging in sexual contact" with her daughter, according to KPLC. He was already a known sex offender after being convicted in 2011 of attempted aggravated sexual assault. Court documents show he also has one count of felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile from 2006 on his records. Due to his disturbed history and latest offence, McCartney made the decision to take a plea deal that involves him being castrated, the Vernon Parish DA office said. District Attorney Terry Lambright told People it will involve him being physically and chemically castrated. Chemical castration is a procedure that typically involves using medication to reduce testosterone or other sex hormones to lower a person's sex drive. Whereas surgical castration involves removing a man's testicles or a woman's ovaries in order to stop their production of sex hormones. Lambright added: "This is a horrific crime that never should have happened. 'My police chief dad raped me for 11yrs as leader of twisted paedo sex cult whose members would chase me through woods "Thomas McCartney is a predator that needs to be locked away from others in our community." The deal also states he will serve 40 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections. McCartney could have refused to undergo the treatment but he would have faced up to five extra years on his sentence without the possibility of an early release. The ruling comes after Louisiana became the first US state where judges can order sex offenders with child victims to undergo surgical castration. It follows a bill which was signed into law by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry last year. The US became one of only a handful of countries who allow for castration to be handed out as a punishment. Others include Czech Republic, Madagascar and states in Nigeria. These rulings have been strongly criticised by Amnesty International and human rights organizations in the past. Surgical castration can be viewed as a violation of human rights as it can take away a person's bodily integrity, dignity, and freedom from cruel or degrading treatment. Some international organisations also argue it is a form of inhumane treatment. Another issue is that it is a permanent procedure so cannot be undone. Chemical castration is often viewed as a more accepted alternative. Several US states have laws allowing for its use which sees pharmaceutical drugs given to the individual in order to halt their sex drive. Louisiana's new surgical castration law LOUISIANA is the first US state to allow surgical castration to be used as a punishment for sex crimes under a new law signed by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry. This law went into effect on August 1, 2024, and allows judges to order people found guilty of certain sex crimes against minors to undergo surgical castration. In most cases, it only applies to offenders found guilty of aggravated sex crimes against a child under 13. However, it is down to the individual if they chose to undergo the surgery. They can refuse but it would result in them being sentenced to three to five years extra on their sentence without the possibility of getting out early. It was argued that the bill will act as a strong deterrent for any child sex abusers and therefore protect children. 3
The Sun
4 minutes ago
- The Sun
Chilling six word text pregnant teen Kylee Monteiro sent to sister days before her boyfriend charged with her murder
A PREGNANT teenager sent a harrowing text message to her family - just days before her boyfriend allegedly murdered her. Gregory Groom, 22, is accused of stabbing high school graduate Kylee Monteiro, 18, following a bust-up on August 6. 7 7 Groom reported Kylee, who was 11 weeks pregnant, missing the next day following the alleged stabbing at the property in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. The search for Kylee, 18, spanned around two weeks before Groom was arrested after a body believed to be her was found in a woodland near the home. Groom has been charged with murder - an allegation which he denies - and a chilling text message was read out in court on Wednesday. It was a message that Kylee is believed to have sent to her sister, Faith, on the day of the argument. Kylee and Groom reportedly argued about her living arrangements. She had recently been living in a homeless shelter for pregnant women, as reported by The Sun Chronicle. 'He threw me on the ground and pulled my hair and strangled me,' the text message said. 'My phone is at 4% and if I die, it was Greg.' In the days after Kylee was reported missing, her family grew concerned. Groom was the last person to see Kylee alive, according to cops. They said she was active on social media and always in touch with relatives, as reported by the NBC affiliate WJAR-TV. She was preparing to become a mother and had already chosen her baby's name. She was last seen wearing a red t-shirt that had the phrase 'Get over it' emblazoned on the front. But, Faith said her sister was timid. 7 7 Groom was arrested on August 19 and initially faced charges of aggravated assault and battery. But, when he was quizzed by cops, he appeared to give two different accounts. Groom first told cops he pushed his girlfriend after the argument, as reported by the CBS affiliate WBZ-TV. He claimed she fell back and hit her head. Then, he drew a map of the area where he buried her remains, according to prosecutor Jason Mohan. HORROR DEATH Groom then chillingly admitted that he killed Kylee after being interrogated. Harrowing details of the stabbing have since emerged. He allegedly stabbed Kylee twice in the neck and once in the chest. Groom allegedly stabbed Kylee with a kitchen knife and the impact of the stabbing forced the blade to break. Cops were able to link Groom to Kylee's murder after a body was found near his home. Kylee's body was around five feet underground, according to investigators. Groom told cops he had spent 'all night' digging the area where he is believed to have hidden the body. The spot where her body was buried had been covered up with trees, according to the ABC affiliate WLNE-TV. Cadaver dogs and excavators were used during the search at Groom's home. An autopsy on Kylee's body is underway. Groom was charged with murder following his admission and is being held without bail. He pleaded not guilty to the charges at an arraignment hearing. A probable cause hearing is due to take place on September 10. If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or chat at 7 7 7
