Unruly Alaska Airlines passengers allegedly threatened to take over a plane just as it was about to depart Miami, shocking air traffic control audio reveals.
Travelers allegedly threatened flight attendants while Sunday’s Seattle-bound flight was taxiing, prompting pilots to put the jet into lockdown.
“We have set the parking brake and we have a customer disturbance on board right now with threats coming from customers,” the pilot told air traffic controllers in LiveATC audio shared on X.
“We want to go into a lockdown protocol, we’re shutting down our engine. The flight attendants have received threats from customers on board the aircraft.”
Air traffic controllers asked the pilots if law enforcement was needed.
“Absolutely,” the pilot replied.
“Last we heard from the flight attendants is we had a customer threaten to take the aircraft over.”
Miami Dade sheriffs said passengers were deplaned “out of an abundance of caution,” according to the aviation website Paddle your Own Kanoo.
“The investigation determined there was no credible threat. The two individuals involved were rebooked on another flight,” police said.
A notice on the Alaska Airlines website says the carrier is “working to reaccommodate guests” affected by the disruption.
Alaska Airlines 305 is expected to depart Miami at 6:43 p.m. local time Monday, according to FlightAware.
The Post has approached Alaska Airlines for comment.
