On Tuesday afternoon, December 5, 2023, Breeze Airways Flight 717, bound for T.F. Green International Airport in Rhode Island, was compelled to make an unplanned landing at Jacksonville International Airport in Florida. The emergency diversion occurred close to an hour into the flight, which had originated from Orlando International Airport.
The FBI’s Jacksonville field office officials indicated that the aircraft faced a “potential threat.” This prompted an emergency detour to Jacksonville. Despite the immediate concern, the FBI spokesperson later confirmed that ongoing investigations had not revealed any legitimate threat to the aircraft or its passengers.
The incident was primarily attributed to a disturbance reported by the flight’s crew as confirmed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
According to reports from passengers and local news outlets, the disturbance was sparked by an argument between two passengers, said by other passengers to be a couple. During this altercation, the word “bomb” was allegedly mentioned, which led to the flight’s diversion.
Following the emergency landing, two people were arrested in connection with the disturbance. They are expected to face federal criminal charges and could potentially be banned from flying with Breeze Airways.
The events onboard Flight 717 led to significant disruptions. The flight was eventually canceled, and passengers were informed that their journey would not resume until the following afternoon.
In response to the inconvenience caused, Breeze Airways assured passengers that they would be reimbursed for any hotel accommodations needed due to the flight’s cancellation.