Spokane, Washington — A Washington man has been sentenced to nearly two years in federal prison for making a bomb threat aboard an Alaska Airlines flight traveling from Atlanta to Seattle.
On Monday, Acting U.S. Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that Brandon L. Scott, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice to 22 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Scott was also ordered to pay $79,449.47 in restitution to Alaska Airlines and Spokane International Airport.
Incident Overview
According to court records and evidence presented at the sentencing hearing, the incident occurred on July 5, 2023, while Scott was a passenger on Alaska Airlines flight AS 334 from Atlanta to Seattle. During the flight, he handed a threatening note to a flight attendant which falsely claimed that he had several pounds of homemade explosives in his carry-on bag, along with a detonator.
The note read, in part:
“There is a bomb on the plane. This is not a joke… I have nothing left to lose.”
The message included instructions to divert the flight and warned of deadly consequences if the demands were not followed. The flight crew immediately alerted the pilots, who then notified Air Traffic Control. The aircraft was diverted to Spokane International Airport, where it landed safely under heightened security.
Following the landing, Scott was taken into custody. He admitted to making the threat. A thorough search of the plane and his belongings found no explosive materials or devices.
Response and Sentencing
The bomb threat resulted in a temporary ground stop at Spokane International Airport, causing delays for numerous other flights and disrupting air traffic.
“Threatening the safety of a commercial flight is a serious federal offense that endangers lives, disrupts national air travel, and diverts critical emergency resources,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard R. Barker. “This sentence reflects the gravity of the threat and our firm commitment to airline safety.”
FBI Seattle Field Office Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Herrington added:
“Although the threat turned out to be a hoax, it had real-life consequences. Fortunately, no one was injured, and the situation was handled with professionalism by the flight crew and responding agencies.”
Investigation and Prosecution
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tyler H.L. Tornabene and Patrick J. Cashman of the Eastern District of Washington.
