An American Airlines flight was forced to land in Puerto Rico after a passenger misread a text message on another traveler’s phone. The message contained the acronym “RIP,” which the passenger feared was a sign of danger to the plane.
The flight crew was alerted, and the pilot diverted the plane to Isla Verde Airport. Local authorities investigated and found that the message was a condolence text sent to a passenger who had recently lost his father. He was traveling to Dallas to support his family.
Security personnel and the TSA conducted a full inspection of the aircraft and questioned the passengers involved. After confirming no threat existed, the plane was cleared to continue its trip, landing safely in Dallas the following day.
The delay lasted around three and a half hours, with passengers remaining onboard during the checks. Officials described the incident as a false alarm handled properly under safety guidelines. American Airlines apologized for the inconvenience and assured passengers that safety remains their top concern.
