Who is John Stea? More on suspect in Hawaiian Airlines false bomb threat
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A San Diego-based Navy sailor was cited and released Tuesday after allegedly making a false bomb threat aboard a Hawaiian Airlines flight bound for Honolulu.
Harbor Police arrested John Stea, 35, after he reportedly told a flight attendant that the passenger next to him had a bomb. The incident occurred on Hawaiian Airlines Flight 15, which was grounded at San Diego International Airport for hours while authorities searched the aircraft.
Cellphone video taken by passenger Debbie Danzig shows officers escorting Stea off the plane in handcuffs. Passengers remained on board during the initial investigation before eventually being asked to deplane as authorities, including officers in tactical gear and bomb-sniffing dogs, conducted a full search of the aircraft and luggage.
'It was absolutely silent on the airplane. Nobody was saying anything,' Danzig said during an interview on FOX 5's morning show. 'We had no concerns — the airline handled it very well, everybody was extremely calm.'
No explosives were found, and officials later confirmed the threat was a hoax. The flight, carrying nearly 300 passengers and crew members, departed for Hawaii roughly six hours later.
Stea is facing misdemeanor charges of making a false bomb threat and falsely reporting a security threat. Because the charges are misdemeanors, he was cited and released rather than booked into jail.
According to Navy officials, Stea is an Electronics Technician Second Class assigned to Maritime Expeditionary Security Group One, which focuses on anti-terrorism operations and military force protection. He has served in the Navy since May 2009 and has received several commendations, including the Good Conduct Medal.
Stea lives in Coronado with his wife and two children. The U.S. Navy said it is reviewing the situation, and it is unclear how the charges might affect his military career.
The San Diego City Attorney's Office will determine whether to prosecute the case.
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