'My laptop is a bomb': US Air Force veteran makes midair threat; triggers emergency landing in Florida

A domestic flight in the US was forced to make an emergency landing after a 27-year-old man, recently discharged from a psychiatric facility, allegedly claimed mid-air that his laptop was a bomb.

The incident occurred on Allegiant air flight 1023, which had departed St Pete–Clearwater international airport in Florida and was headed to Roanoke–Blacksburg regional airport in Virginia, with 177 passengers and six crew members on board.

According to the New York post, citing the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, the situation unfolded less than an hour after take-off on Sunday afternoon, when the accused, Taj Malik Taylor, allegedly told his seatmate twice, “I have a bomb.” When questioned, he pointed to his laptop and added, “My laptop is a bomb.”

Alarmed, the passenger informed the cabin crew, prompting the pilot to turn the aircraft around. The plane made an emergency landing approximately 40 minutes after take-off and was met by law enforcement officers on the ground.

Taylor was arrested around 2 pm, and a K-9 unit was deployed to search his belongings. Authorities said multiple passengers overheard the bomb threat.

Following Taylor’s removal, the flight resumed its journey and landed safely in Roanoke at 7:57 pm.

“Allegiant does not tolerate disruptive behaviour of any kind,” the airline said in a statement.

Taylor is a former high school football player from Largo, Florida, who suffered a Grade 3 concussion during a game in 2013, which caused him to lose consciousness for over 10 minutes. Such injuries are linked to long-term neurological effects.

He has also claimed to be a US Air Force veteran and is currently a seminary student at Liberty University in Virginia.

According to an FBI affidavit, Taylor did not directly admit to making the threats but said the woman sitting next to him had been “rude.” He also told investigators he had recently been discharged from a mental health facility, had taken his medication the night before, and suffers from a lack of clarity when unmedicated.

Taylor has been charged with felony offences for making threats and providing false information. He was handed over to the US Marshals on Monday and made his initial appearance in Tampa federal court the same day.

If convicted, Taylor could face up to five years in prison, a fine of $25,000, or both, for making a false bomb threat. The FBI is leading the investigation.