An American Airlines flight en route to Dallas from San Juan, Puerto Rico, was forced to turn back shortly after takeoff when a passenger misinterpreted a seatmate’s text message as a possible threat.
The incident occurred on Flight 1847, which departed from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport. Approximately 30 minutes into the flight, a passenger noticed a nearby traveler receiving a text message containing the acronym “R.I.P.” — typically short for “rest in peace.” Alarmed by the message and fearing it implied a threat to the flight, the concerned passenger alerted the flight crew.
According to Puerto Rico’s Office of Explosives and Public Safety, the crew followed standard safety protocols and diverted the aircraft back to San Juan out of an “abundance of caution” due to the perceived security concern.
A spokesperson for American Airlines stated, “American Airlines Flight 1847, operating from San Juan (SJU) to Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), returned to SJU shortly after departure due to a possible security concern. The flight landed safely, and local authorities conducted a thorough inspection of the aircraft.”
Aerostar’s deputy director of security, Félix Alvarado, led the investigation and confirmed that the message did not constitute a real threat. The individual who received the “R.I.P.” message explained that it was related to the recent death of a close family member and had nothing to do with any danger to the aircraft. They had reportedly cut their vacation short to return home after learning the news.
“There was no malicious intent or real threat to the flight. It was a misunderstanding that was dealt with professionally and according to protocol,” said Nelman Nevárez, Aerostar’s director of operations, in a statement originally reported by the local outlet Primera Hora.
After authorities cleared the aircraft and confirmed the situation was safe, the flight resumed its journey to Dallas. The plane, carrying 193 passengers, was cleared for takeoff again at approximately 10:00 a.m. local time.
