FBI investigating verbal bomb threat made on Allegiant flight

The FBI is investigating a bomb threat made Sunday on Allegiant Air Flight 1023 that forced the plane to return to St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport minutes after takeoff.

A passenger, Taj Taylor, told another passenger that his laptop was a bomb, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. That passenger immediately told flight attendants. Several other passengers also heard Taylor, 27, say he had a bomb, according to deputies.

The sheriff’s office was alerted of the threat at about 2:03 p.m. About five minutes later, the plane, which was headed to Roanoke, Virginia, returned to the airport.

No bomb was found after bomb sniffing dogs with the sheriff’s office searched Taylor’s belongings. Taylor is now in custody. The sheriff’s office referred all further details to the FBI, which it said is now leading the investigation.

It’s the second bomb threat this year to disrupt an Allegiant flight. In late April, Allegiant Air Flight 2006 set to depart for Cincinnati was grounded for hours after an attendant found an “explicit” bomb threat written on the bathroom door. That threat closed St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport for several hours.

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