easyJet Flight Diverted After Passenger Threatens Bomb, Shouts Anti-Trump Messages

On Sunday morning, July 27, an easyJet flight from London Luton Airport to Glasgow was forced to make an emergency landing after a passenger began shouting threats midair. The man, who claimed to have a bomb and said he wanted to “send a message to Trump,” was restrained by fellow passengers and arrested on arrival.

The flight landed safely at Glasgow Airport, and Police Scotland confirmed a 41-year-old man had been taken into custody. Counter-terrorism officers are now reviewing passenger-recorded footage of the incident. The incident coincided with President Trump’s visit to Scotland.

Suspect Claimed To Have Explosives, Was Restrained By Passengers Mid-Flight

An easyJet Airbus A319 aircraft, operating as flight EZY609, was conducting a scheduled service from London Luton Airport to Glasgow International Airport on the morning of July 27. Less than an hour into the flight, a male passenger came out of the rear lavatory shouting aggressively, “death to America, death to Trump,” and claiming to have a bomb.

Witnesses reported that he raised his hands and yelled “Allahu Akbar” (which means God is Great) and started shouting that he had explosives, and he would bomb the plane, according to The Sun UK. He then pushed flight attendants and acted aggressively toward crew members, which prompted several passengers to intervene.

At least three individuals held him down in the aisle while the crew checked his belongings. An easyJet spokesperson said in a statement to The Sun:

"Flight EZY609 [was] met by police on arrival in Glasgow, where they boarded the aircraft and removed a passenger due to their behavior onboard. easyJet's crew are trained to assess all situations and act quickly and appropriately to ensure that the safety of the flight and other customers is not compromised at any time. The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is always easyJet's highest priority."

The Aircraft Landed Safely At Glasgow International Airport Without Any Delay

The flight landed safely at Glasgow Airport around 8:20 and was met by emergency response units. The aircraft taxied to a remote stand, where six Police Scotland officers boarded and arrested the man. No explosive device was found. A passenger reported that the man was carrying refugee identification and appeared to be an Indian national.

Police confirmed that the man had been taken into custody. “A 41-year-old man was arrested in connection and further inquiries are ongoing,” said Police Scotland. “At this time, we believe the incident was contained and that nobody else was involved. We are aware of videos circulating online, and these are being assessed by counter terrorism officers.”

Such unruly acts, whether making false bomb threats, behaving aggressively, or endangering others onboard, remain a serious concern for flight crews. In many cases, disruptive passengers face serious criminal charges, including prosecution under anti-terrorism or aviation safety laws.

Authorities in several countries, including the US Federal Aviation Administration and the UK Civil Aviation Authority, have also emphasized zero-tolerance policies toward such behavior and have warned that any perceived threat to flight safety will be treated as a criminal offense.

Similar Bomb Hoaxes On Board Have Led To Diversions & Cancellations

Cabin staff are trained to respond quickly to these situations, which often result in diversions or returns to the departure airport. In this case, the aircraft continued as planned and arrived in Glasgow without further disruption. However, several recent incidents involving false bomb threats have led to diversions, and in some cases, full flight cancellations.

Earlier this month, for instance, a passenger aboard Allegiant Air flight 1023 from St. Pete–Clearwater to Roanoke falsely claimed his laptop was a bomb, which prompted the aircraft to return to Florida. He was taken into custody and now faces a felony charge for making a false report involving explosives.

Additionally, last month, an Air India flight AI114 from Birmingham to Delhi was diverted to Riyadh after a bomb threat was reported onboard. In a separate incident days later, Air India flight AI379 operating from Phuket to New Delhi returned to Phuket mid-flight after the crew discovered a threat note in the lavatory.

In March, Air India flight AI119 from Mumbai to New York JFK was canceled after a bomb threat was found written on a lavatory wall during boarding. The flight was rescheduled for the following day, and the airline arranged accommodation and support for the affected passengers.