Alaska Flight 305 Resumes After Miami Threat Probe Finds No Credible Risk

Q: What exact words forced an Alaska Airlines crew to abruptly shut down an engine and initiate a terrifying tarmac lockdown?

The exact wording publicly confirmed on the air traffic control audio was the pilot telling ground control: “We have a customer disturbance on board right now, with threats coming from customers,” followed by, “We want to go into a lockdown protocol. We are shutting down our engine.” A further statement relayed by the crew was: “The flight attendants have received threats from customers on board the aircraft.” When controllers asked if police were needed, the pilot replied: “Absolutely.” As for the specific threat that appears to have triggered the most serious response, multiple follow-up reports said the crew told controllers the “last thing” they had heard from flight attendants was that a passenger had threatened to “take the aircraft over.” That phrase was reported by several outlets and aviation trackers, though authorities later said their investigation found no credible threat. So, the clearest answer is that the engine shutdown and lockdown were prompted by reported passenger threats, with the most specific alleged wording being a threat to “take the aircraft over.”

3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Aug 10

Miami-Dade deputies cleared Alaska Airlines Flight 305 after investigating a passenger disturbance and finding no credible threat, allowing travelers to reboard and continue to Seattle.
ATC audio captured the pilot stopping the aircraft, setting the parking brake and requesting lockdown protocol after reporting threats from customers on board.
Two individuals involved were removed during the gate-side response and later rebooked on another flight, while the aircraft was cleared without further incident.
The episode unfolded Sunday evening at Miami International Airport aboard the Seattle-bound Boeing 737, adding to scrutiny of how crews handle in-cabin threats before departure.