SPOKANE, Wash. — A man who claimed to have a bomb on an Alaska Airlines flight has been sentenced to prison and ordered to pay substantial restitution.
United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Brandon L. Scott, 40, to 22 months in federal prison for making a bomb threat that forced the diversion of a Seattle-bound flight last summer.
Scott must also serve three years of supervised release and pay $79,449.47 in restitution to Alaska Airlines and the Spokane International Airport.
On July 5, 2023, while traveling from Atlanta to Seattle, Scott handed a flight attendant a note claiming he had explosives in his carry-on bag and a detonator, threatening to “kill everyone on board” unless the plane was rerouted. The flight was diverted to Spokane International Airport, causing a ground stop that significantly delayed other flights.
After landing, Scott was taken into custody and admitted to his actions. No explosive materials or devices were found on the aircraft.
“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 Acting U.S. Attorney Richard R. Barker.
FBI Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Herrington added, “The threat made by Mr. Scott ended up being a hoax, but he is finding it had real-life consequences.”
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