A Florida man reportedly told authorities that he had recently been discharged from a mental health facility before making a bomb threat during a flight.
On Sunday at 1:48 PM, an Allegiant Air flight, number 1023, took off from St. Pete Clearwater International Airport heading to Roanoke Blacksburg Regional Airport in Virginia.
The suspect, 27-year-old Taj Malik Taylor from Largo, Florida, allegedly informed a fellow passenger that “My laptop is a bomb.”
When questioned by other passengers about his comment, Taylor was said to have repeatedly claimed that his laptop posed a bomb threat.
Flight crews were alerted, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office noted they received a report of the threat around 2:03 PM.
Several witnesses reported hearing Taylor say he had a bomb.
The aircraft returned to St. Pete Clearwater International Airport at 2:08 PM without incident.
A spokesperson for Allegiant Air noted that the airline does not tolerate such behavior, leading to the decision for an emergency landing. Law enforcement detained passengers upon arrival.
No explosives were found during a search of Taylor’s belongings by K-9 units.
All passengers and crew members had to disembark, causing the flight to reach Virginia about five hours late, at 7:57 PM.
Taylor was taken into custody for questioning.
While Taylor denied making a bomb threat, he reportedly mentioned that a woman seated next to him had been rude. He also stated he had taken medication the night before but felt a “lack of clarity.”
The affidavit suggested that he acted with intent to create panic, disregarding safety.
Taylor faces serious charges for the bomb threat. If found guilty, he could face a fine up to $25,000 and a maximum of five years in prison.
On Monday, he was transferred to federal custody, with the FBI leading the investigation.
His first court appearance was held in Tampa Federal Court later that day.
