Allegiant Plane Diverted After Passenger Claims Laptop is a Bomb

Emergency Landing and Threat

• ✈️ An Allegiant A320 en route to Roanoke declared an emergency and returned to St. Pete after a passenger claimed his laptop was a bomb.
• 🚨 Pilots requested to return shortly after departure due to the passenger's statement.

Airport Response and Law Enforcement

• 🚓 St. Pete tower coordinated the emergency landing, with law enforcement and emergency crews preparing for the aircraft's arrival.
• 🚧 The plane was instructed to park on runway 4 between taxiways golf 2 and golf 3, where deputies would meet them.
• 🔒 The cockpit was reported secure, while information was being gathered from the cabin regarding the situation.

Investigation and Resolution

• 🕵️ The passenger later clarified that it was a laptop, not a bomb, but the threat still necessitated a full response.
• 🚪 Law enforcement and operations personnel planned to board the aircraft via a preferred aft door to secure the individual.
• 🤝 The passenger was taken into custody by Pinellas County Sheriff's Office deputies, and no injuries were reported.
• FBI is now leading the investigation into the incident.