A Dallas-bound American Airlines flight was forced to turn around shortly after takeoff from San Juan, Puerto Rico, after a passenger misinterpreted a text message received by a seatmate on Thursday.
According to The Dallas Morning News, a passenger alerted flight attendants after noticing another passenger receiving a text message that read "R.I.P."
The traveler implicated told authorities that a relative had passed away a day earlier and they were heading home from vacation early as a result.
In a statement to the publication, the airline confirmed that flight 1847 returned to San Juan "shortly after departure due to a possible security concern." However, American added that the decision was made strictly "out of an abundance of caution" and that the flight crew determined there was no threat.
"Safety and security are our top priorities and we apologize to our customers for the inconvenience," the airline said.
Nelman Nevárez, director of operations for airport manager Aerostar, called the incident a "mix-up."
"There was no real threat to the flight or its passengers."
The flight was inspected by law enforcement and eventually re-departed for Dallas around 9:40 a.m. local time on Thursday.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
