Student confesses to false bomb threat on flight from Texas

EL PASO, Texas – A high school student has confessed to sending a fake bomb threat via AirDrop that caused an American Airlines flight to be diverted off the runway at a Texas airport last week, authorities said.

The Texas Department of Public Safety said that while taxiing Friday at El Paso International Airport, passengers received a message on their Apple device via AirDrop saying, “I have a bomb, I’d like to share a photo.” On Monday, the agency said the message caused the plane to taxi back to the gate.

The Department of Public Safety said the investigation had identified a minor who confessed to sending the AirDrop. The agency said evidence was found in the suspect’s mobile phone to support the confession.

The agency reported that during the search of the aircraft, passengers and luggage by sappers, no explosives were found, the threat was recognized as implausible.

The Department of Public Safety said the El Paso County Attorney agreed to prosecute the juvenile for false alarm or reporting, and the juvenile was transferred to the custody of the El Paso County Juvenile Probation Department.

Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh confirmed the minor was a student returning from a school-sponsored mission trip near the Texas-Mexico border. School spokesman Brian Cook told WTAE in Pittsburgh that the student’s message was a joke.

American Airlines Flight 2051 bound for Chicago had 125 passengers and eight crew members.