Per reports, the 38-year-old first-class passenger, later identified as Brandon, passed a note to a flight attendant. Police officials said that in the note, the passenger reportedly threatened to kill everyone on board if the pilot landed in the designated destination. Flight 334’s path abruptly changed after he passed a note to the flight attendant, a federal complaint revealed.
There is a bomb on this plane,’ Brandon said. “This is not a joke. Several pounds of homemade explosives are in my carry-on bag. I have a detonator with me. Handle this matter carefully and exactly how I say, otherwise, I will detonate the explosives and kill everyone on board.” According to the statement, the 38-year-old also wrote that he had nothing left to lose and demanded the plane be rerouted from its destination.
“Deviate and the consequences will be deadly for all of us. I have nothing left to lose. Any other airport will do. If this plane lands in Seatle, I will kill everyone onboard. Change our destination and I will refrain from detonating the bomb. I repeat, if I see us land in Seattle, I will kill every soul on this plane.” he wrote
Flight 334 was rerouted and when law enforcement met the plane, Brandon surrendered to authorities. Brandon later told authorities he knew the information in his note was ‘false’ and that he had no bomb but wanted to be arrested because members of the Sinaloa Cartel were waiting to torture him. Brandon also admitted he had considered other diversion methods, such as assaulting a flight attendant or opening the cabin door to avoid landing in Seattle.