An American Airlines flight from Puerto Rico to Dallas had to turn back shortly after takeoff due to a misunderstanding that caused panic.
A woman on the flight saw a message on another passenger’s phone that said “RIP” (short for “Rest In Peace”). She believed it meant there was a danger to the flight and quickly informed the cabin crew.
The crew followed safety rules and alerted the pilots. The flight, numbered AA 1847, had taken off from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan and was headed to Dallas Fort Worth. About 30 minutes into the journey, the plane returned to San Juan as a precaution.
American Airlines said the flight came back because of a possible security concern. Once back on the ground, law enforcement checked the plane and confirmed there was no threat. The flight was later cleared to continue.
It was later found that the “RIP” message was simply a condolence text. The passenger had lost a loved one the day before, and the message was related to that loss — not the flight.
Nelman Nevarez, an operations director at the airport, said, “It was a misunderstanding, but the crew followed safety procedures properly. There was no real threat to anyone on board.”
American Airlines apologized to passengers for the inconvenience and said safety is always their top priority.
