Bomb Threat on Allegiant Flight Causes St. Pete-Clearwater Airport Closure

Airport Lockdown Due to Written Bomb Threat

• ⚠️ A bomb threat discovered on an Allegiant Airlines flight led to the closure of St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE).
• ✈️ The incident occurred Friday evening when a flight attendant found a written threat inside a plane's bathroom and alerted the pilot.
• 🚨 The threat prompted an immediate evacuation of approximately 170 passengers from the plane onto the tarmac.

Extensive Investigation and Airport Reopening

• 🔍 The threat was not limited to the initial aircraft; it included all Allegiant planes at the airport, necessitating a lockdown of all incoming and on-ground aircraft.
• 🚫 Investigators checked about half a dozen planes and found no evidence of any explosive devices.
• ⏱️ The airport experienced a virtual ground stop for close to 5 hours before eventually reopening.

Passenger Experience and Ongoing Investigation

• 🏃 Passengers were quickly moved away from the plane and later held in a contained area for several hours.
• 🕵️ Detectives are interviewing passengers and crew to determine when and where the threat was written.
• 👥 While no one is in custody, authorities have identified suspicious individuals and are continuing their investigation.