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Alaska Airlines Flight 305 was unable to depart 
Miami International Airport (MIA) on Sunday after flight attendants received threats from multiple travelers. In audio shared by Andy Slater via X, the pilots told the tower that the FAs reported customers “threatened to take the aircraft over.”
The Boeing 737-890 was bound for Seattle-Tacoma Airport (SEA), but it had to be cancelled, as shown in FlightAware logs. CBS News later reported that no credible threat was found, but every passenger was deplaned for an investigation by Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Airport District deputies.
Locked Down On Alaska Airlines
After the FAs informed the flight deck of the problem on Sunday’s flight, the pilots called the tower for law enforcement support and followed up by stating their intent to put the plane in a ‘lockdown.’ Instituted after the September 11 attacks, the lockdown protocol in commercial aviation is where the reinforced flight deck door is completely sealed to prevent access to the cockpit.
Any threat of violence in commercial aviation is treated with the utmost seriousness given the high risk of a midair emergency. Alhtough the details of the altercation remain unclear, the abundance of caution by the aircrew follows standard operating procedure. In the lockdown state, the bulletproof cockpit door is electronically locked and is not to be opened for any reason.
The goal of a lockdown is ensuring that the pilots maintain control of the aircraft to prevent it from being used by hijackers as a weapon. On Flight 305, the pilots immediately also set the brakes and shut down the plane’s engines after sealing the flight deck because they were still on the ramp.
Below is a transcript excerpt from Enhanced Radar of Flight 305’s call to the tower, according to Paddle Your Own Kanoo:
”Ramp, Alaska 305, we have set the parking brake, and we have a customer disturbance on board right now, with threats coming from customers. We want to go into a lockdown protocol. We are shutting down the engine, and the parking brake is set.”
The Fallout Of Flight 305
The two disruptive passengers were booked on a separate flight because the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office formally determined that they posed no credible threat. That left them legally free to travel after their removal from Flight 305 but still face consequences for the disruption to air operations. As of yet, it is not confirmed, but the two travelers were likely banned from Alaska Airlines.
Because no criminal charges were pressed by local police, the individuals were legally allowed to fly. Yet, the company can exercise its right to refuse service, which would likely include being banned from flying on subsidiaries Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air as well. Airlines can also sue disruptive passengers in civil court to recover the massive costs associated with the disruption.
There are also penalties enforceable under the policies of the Federal Aviation Administration for interfering with flight crews or making verbal threats. FAA fines can reach up to $37,000 per violation. If the case is referred to federal authorities, interfering with a flight crew is a federal felony. It can carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
The Price Of Bad Behavior In The Cabin
Considering that no credible threat was found by the local law enforcement, it is unlikely that the two passengers will face jail time or be put on the no-fly list. Still, it is highly likely that, in addition to airline bans, they will face some form of penalty from the FAA. If there were any physical acts of violence or ‘interference with flight crew members’ beyond verbal threats, then legal action may be pursued by federal agencies.
Once again, since local LEOs pressed no charges, this does appear to be a case limited to non-violent behavior. The ATC recording serves as an official, unalterable record that the passengers’ words directly forced the pilots to abort the flight. While they escaped immediate criminal arrest, the financial consequences of triggering a cockpit lockdown will follow them for years.
