Military Member Arrested After Bomb Threat At San Diego International Airport

Real ID explained: what it is, why it matters, and how to get yours

Real ID requirements: everything you need to know about getting compliant for travel and ID.

Authorities arrested a member of the military after a bomb threat disrupted a Hawaiian Airlines flight on May 20, prompting an evacuation just before the plane's takeoff at San Diego International Airport.

John Stea, 35, was charged with making a false bomb threat and false report of a security threat, the Port of San Diego Harbor Police Department said. Stea was onboard HA Flight 15 when he told a flight attendant the passenger next to him had a bomb, according to authorities.

The plane had just detached from the jetway and was on the tarmac to depart for Honolulu International Airport. At 8:45 a.m. PT, Port of San Diego Harbor Police received the dispatch call from the captain about the "possible bomb threat onboard."

"During pushback from the gate, a guest was overheard making a threat to the safety of our aircraft," said Melissa Villegas, a spokesperson for Hawaiian Airlines. "As a precaution, the captain immediately taxied the Airbus A330 to a safe location on the airfield where it was met with local and federal law enforcement and guests were safely deplaned."

All 283 passengers and 10 crew members were evacuated from the aircraft and transported by bus to a safe area.

Port of San Diego Harbor Police’s Maritime Tactical team, K-9 Team, Joint Terrorism Task Force, the San Diego Fire Department, and the FBI responded to the scene to search the aircraft, according to the Harbor Police. "Nothing suspicious was found on the aircraft," the law enforcement agency added.

After authorities cleared the plane, guests reboarded and departed around 2:15 p.m. local time – about five hours after the scheduled departure time.

"We appreciate their understanding during this situation and apologize for any concern this may have caused," said Villegas. "We are working to get all guests to Honolulu as quickly as possible. We are grateful for the professionalism and care of our flight attendants and pilots throughout this event."

Reporting a false bomb threat is against the law and can result in fines and up to a year in county jail or state prison, according to officials.

Harbor Police said there is no threat to the public or travelers. Operations at San Diego International Airport are normal, according to the airport.