Latest news with #JohnStea
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Sailor arrested for allegedly making false bomb threat on plane
A U.S. Navy sailor was taken into custody Tuesday at the San Diego International Airport after allegedly claiming that there were explosives aboard a commercial airliner, local authorities said. The Port of San Diego Harbor Police Department arrested 35-year-old John Stea, an electronics technician assigned to Maritime Expeditionary Security Group One, for allegedly informing a flight attendant that the passenger next to him had a bomb on a Hawaiian Airlines flight about to take off to Honolulu, Hawaii, according to a statement from Port of San Diego authorities. The flight attendant told the captain of the alleged danger as the plane prepared to depart. The plane immediately taxied off the runway and parked on the airfield, awaiting security assistance. 'At approximately 8:45 a.m., the Port of San Diego Harbor Police Maritime Tactical Team (MARTAC, also known as SWAT), K-9 Team, and Joint Terrorism Task Force, along with the San Diego Fire Department and multiple federal agencies, responded to the scene to search the aircraft and its contents,' local authorities said. Private plane crashes into San Diego military housing neighborhood All 293 passengers aboard the plane were evacuated, and a bomb sweep ensued, with K-9s clearing all carry-on and checked luggage, according to the statement. Stea was charged with making a false threat, authorities said. The plane took off after a five-hour delay, local media outlet CBS 8 San Diego reported. Stea was released by local authorities, CBS 8 said, with a promise to appear in court, but the Navy has since taken him into custody. 'The safety of the public and our personnel is of utmost importance to the Navy,' a spokesperson for U.S. 3rd Fleet said in an emailed statement. 'We take all threats seriously and are cooperating fully with local and federal authorities.' Stea is also in danger of being placed on a federal no-fly list by the Transportation Security Administration. He faces civilian charges of up to one year in jail.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Guardian
22-05-2025
- The Guardian
Hawaii-California planes diverted over bomb threat and message on mirror
Two planes traveling between Honolulu and southern California were diverted due to safety concerns, one for a bomb threat, another for a 'security concern' found written on a bathroom mirror. United flight 1169 left Daniel K Inouye international airport at 9.40pm on Tuesday night, headed for Los Angeles international airport. Data from FlightAware shows the airplane reversing course east of Hawaii, and headed back to Honolulu. United gave slim details in a written statement, and stated that all 339 passengers and 10 crew members made it back to Honolulu, and were rebooked on later flights. 'United flight 1169 from Honolulu to Los Angeles returned safely to Honolulu after a potential security concern was found written on a lavatory mirror,' a United spokesperson said. 'Law enforcement met the aircraft, and a security sweep was conducted.' Hawaiian Airlines flight 15 was scheduled to depart from San Diego at about 8.30am Tuesday morning, but delayed takeoff due to a bomb threat onboard. Harbor police issued a statement saying that they had arrested 35-year-old military member John Stea in relation to the threat. All 293 people onboard were safely deplaned, and the flight landed in Honolulu after a cumulative five-hour delay, according to FlightAware.
International Business Times
21-05-2025
- International Business Times
Who Is John Stea? Military Technician Arrested for Making False Bomb Threat on Hawaiian Airlines at San Diego Airport
A Navy technician was arrested for reportedly making a false bomb threat during a Hawaiian Airlines flight, authorities said. Electronics Technician 1st Class John Stea, 35, allegedly told a flight attendant that the person seated next to him had a bomb just minutes before takeoff from San Diego International Airport on Tuesday morning, the San Diego Harbor Police said. Authorities were alerted and quickly swarmed Hawaiian Airlines Flight 15 on the runway at 8:45 a.m. One man was removed from the plane in handcuffs, according to witnesses. However, it still remains unclear whether it was Stea or the person he had falsely accused of carrying a bomb inside the plane. Creating a Panic Situation All 293 passengers on board were evacuated from the aircraft and transported by bus to a secure location. The aircraft was cleared after law enforcement conducted a thorough search of the plane using bomb-sniffing dogs. Passengers reboarded, and the flight took off for Honolulu roughly five hours later, Hawaiian Airlines reported. Officials later said that there is no danger to passengers at San Diego International Airport. "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 incarceration in county jail or state prison if convicted," the agency said. Everything West Smooth after Check "During pushback from the gate, a guest was overheard making a threat to the safety of our aircraft," said Melissa Villegas, a spokesperson for Hawaiian Airlines. "As a precaution, the captain immediately taxied the Airbus A330 to a safe location on the airfield where it was met with local and federal law enforcement, and guests were safely deplaned." "We appreciate their understanding during this situation and apologize for any concern this may have caused," said Villegas. "We are working to get all guests to Honolulu as quickly as possible. We are grateful for the professionalism and care of our flight attendants and pilots throughout this event." The response to the incident included the Port of San Diego Harbor Police Maritime Tactical SWAT team, the K-9 unit, the Joint Terrorism Task Force, and the San Diego Fire Department, all of whom were dispatched to the scene. "The safety of the public and our personnel is of utmost importance to the Navy. We take all threats seriously and are cooperating fully with local and federal authorities," Lt. Mohammad N. Issa, deputy public affairs officer, Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, said in a statement.
Fox News
21-05-2025
- Fox News
Navy technician arrested for allegedly making false bomb threat on Hawaiian Airlines flight
A U.S. Navy technician was identified as the suspect charged with making a false bomb threat on board a Hawaiian Airlines flight preparing to take off from San Diego. The Port of San Diego Harbor Police Department announced that John Stea, 35, was arrested following Tuesday's incident. "The suspect was onboard Hawaiian Airlines flight 15 when he told a flight attendant the passenger next to him had a bomb. The flight attendant informed the captain of the plane about the potential threat as the flight was pulling away from the jetway and getting ready to depart the San Diego International Airport to Honolulu, Hawaii," it said in a statement. A spokesperson for the U.S. Third Fleet told KITV that "Electronics Technician 1st Class John Stea, assigned to Maritime Expeditionary Security Group One, was arrested by San Diego Harbor Police on May 20 following an alleged bomb threat. "The safety of the public and our personnel is of utmost importance to the Navy. We take all threats seriously and are cooperating fully with local and federal authorities," the spokesperson added. U.S. Third Fleet did not immediately respond Wednesday to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. "The Port of San Diego Harbor Police Maritime Tactical Team, K-9 Team, and Joint Terrorism Task Force, along with the San Diego Fire Department and multiple federal agencies, responded to the scene to search the aircraft and its contents," the Port of San Diego Harbor Police Department said. "The plane captain had taxied to a safe location on the airfield. All 293 people onboard were deplaned and transported by bus to a safe area. K-9s cleared the aircraft including all carry-on and checked luggage," it added. Stea, described by police as a "member of the military," was charged with making a false bomb threat and false report of a security threat. Isai Solorzano, another Navy sailor who was on the flight, told FOX 5 KUSI what he witnessed, explaining that law enforcement officials boarded the plane and asked about the owner of some specific containers. "One guy stood up, (and) they immediately told him to turn around and put him in handcuffs," Solorzano said. "They took him away."
