A Florida man was arrested after allegedly making a false bomb threat aboard an Allegiant Air flight, forcing the plane to return to St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport.
Taj Malik Taylor, 27, of Largo, Florida, reportedly told a fellow passenger on Allegiant flight 1023 that his laptop was a bomb. The flight, originally bound for Roanoke, Virginia, quickly turned back after the threat was reported.
According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, the concerned passenger notified flight attendants immediately. Several other passengers also confirmed hearing Taylor make the alarming statement.
Upon landing, K9 units searched Taylor’s belongings and found no explosives. He was booked into Pinellas County Jail late Sunday and released about 11 hours later.
The FBI has since taken over the investigation. An arrest affidavit states Taylor willfully and falsely claimed to have an explosive device, “with reckless disregard for the safety of human life.”
Taylor told investigators he made the comment in response to another passenger being rude and admitted he had recently been released from a mental health facility. He also said he was suffering from a “lack of clarity” due to medication he took the day before the incident.
Allegiant Air responded in a statement: “We do not tolerate disruptive behavior of any kind, so the decision was made to return to the airport.” Law enforcement was waiting on the ground and took Taylor into custody.
Taylor appeared in court Monday morning. His legal representation status remains unclear.
