SEATTLE — A man has been sentenced to 22 months in federal prison for making a bomb threat onboard an Alaska Airlines flight to Seattle, Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced this week.
United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice also imposed three years of supervised release and ordered Brandon L. Scott, 40, to pay $79,449.47 in restitution to Alaska Airlines and Spokane International Airport.
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On July 5, 2023, Scott, a passenger on a flight from Atlanta to Seattle, handed a flight attendant a note claiming there was a bomb on the plane. The note read, in part:
“There is a bomb on the plane. This is not a joke. Several pounds of homemade explosives are in my carry-on bag. I have a detonator with me. Handle this matter carefully and exactly how I say, otherwise I will detonate the explosives and kill everyone on board. You are to alert the pilot to this note and keep the issue to yourself. Many innocent lives are in your hands, do as I demand and everyone will live. Deviate and the consequences will be deadly for all of us. I have nothing left to lose.”
The note instructed the flight to be rerouted. The flight attendant alerted the captain and co-pilot, who then informed Air Traffic Control.
The flight was diverted to Spokane International Airport, where Scott was taken into custody. No explosives were found on the plane.
Officials conducted interviews with passengers of the flight, one of whom said they witnessed Scott writing the note during the flight, according to court documents. Scott himself later admitted that he had taken two shots of vodka during the flight. However, court documents said that he didn’t appear intoxicated at the time of his interview.
During his interview, Scott not only admitted to writing the note but also admitted to knowing the information within the note was false. Scott said he hoped the false information would divert the flight and lead to his arrest, claiming he was being targeted by the Sinaloa Cartel.
Scott additionally claimed members of the cartel were awaiting him at Sea-Tac airport, and revealed he considered violent alternatives to his actions, such as assaulting a flight attendant or opening a cabin door while in flight.
“Threatening the safety of a commercial flight is a serious federal crime that puts lives at risk, disrupts national air travel, and drains emergency resources,” said Barker in a press release. “Mr. Scott’s actions caused widespread disruption and alarm, and this case underscores our commitment to protecting the safety of passengers and airline personnel in Eastern Washington and across the country.”
W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office, said, “The threat made by Mr. Scott ended up being a hoax, but he is finding it had real-life consequences. Fortunately, his actions did not result in anyone being hurt. I am grateful that the flight landed without incident in this case and applaud the flight crew for the professional manner in which they handled a potentially dangerous situation.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tyler H.L. Tornabene and Patrick J. Cashman.
