Navy Sailor allegedly makes false bomb report onboard a Hawaiian Airlines flight
Electronics Technician 2nd Class John Stea told a flight attendant that the passenger sitting next to him had a bomb. The flight attendant passed this information to the captain. The captain received this information as the aircraft was pulling away from the jetway in preparation to fly from San Diego to Honolulu. The captain had to move the plane to a safe location so that the passengers could be deplaned and the aircraft cleared of the alleged threat.
From Fox News:
A spokesperson for the U.S. Third Fleet told Fox News Digital, “The Navy is aware Electronics Technician 2nd Class John Stea, assigned to Maritime Expeditionary Security Group One, was arrested by San Diego Harbor Police on May 20 following an alleged bomb threat.
“The safety of the public and our personnel is of utmost importance to the Navy. We take all threats seriously and are cooperating fully with local and federal authorities,” the spokesperson added.
The Port of San Diego Harbor Police Department said its “Police Maritime Tactical Team, K-9 Team, and Joint Terrorism Task Force, along with the San Diego Fire Department and multiple federal agencies, responded to the scene to search the aircraft and its contents.”
“The plane captain had taxied to a safe location on the airfield. All 293 people onboard were deplaned and transported by bus to a safe area. K-9s cleared the aircraft including all carry-on and checked luggage,” it added.
Stea, described by police as a “member of the military,” was charged with making a false bomb threat and false report of a security threat.
Additional Reading:
Norman, G. (2025, May 21). Navy technician arrested for allegedly making false bomb threat on Hawaiian Airlines flight. Fox News. Link.
Category: "Teh Stoopid", Crime, The Stupid is Strong, Veterans in the news
You can’t cure stupid but you can give it a court date and a prison cell.
No alcohol was involved; this is all-natural stupidity.
I didn’t see this particular strategy on the you tube “how to get out fast” videos. Usually you gotta pay extra for that kind of stoopid, Cotton. Let’s see how it works out for him.
He has nothing to worry about if they hold him a New Orleans cell.
Meanwhile, in the Korean People’s Navy, things are going swimmingly well.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/22/asia/north-korea-destroyer-accident-intl-hnk-ml
Yeaaaahhh….the NORK Navy about to start posting Admiralties on Indeed…
My understanding is that we will soon have a few flag officers looking for new employment, so that dovetails nicely.
Wait until he gets the bill from the airline. At least they did’t spend any money to taxi and takeoff.
He’s worthless to the Navy and malicious to civilians. Maybe he can become a District Judge or someone really important like a Magistrate.
Get this Sailor on a flight to Merritt Island ASAP. He is definitely All Points Logistics material.
Dummkopf.
“Electronics Technician 2nd Class John Stea”
Maybe he wanted to be seated in 1st class and they stuck
him in coach. His next flight will be as cargo.
Class act for a 2nd class knucklehead. Sorry Beans, I can’t think of any 1950’s street corner vocal group harmony jump or any novelty songs to fit this knucklehead.. Will check my list of 100 novelty songs and maybe pick out one. Later Alligator
Nah, self loading baggage
I’d say he’s Electronics Technician NO Class.
I have to wonder what kind of problem this created for the guy he accused of having a bomb…the way the TSA operates he’s probably on their list now as “has been accused of having a bomb on an aircraft”, and will be on their No Fly list forever.
The 2nd class tech has been promoted to 1st class idiot.
Is this dood a real dumbass, or did he actually think his fellow passenger had a bomb? Once again, the lack of details leaves us all wondering and saying…Huh?
I guess it’s true: the Navy is not just a job, it’s an adventure.
Add another reason to the list of why I prefer to drive for 3 days instead of fly.
Last time I flew (last weekend) it took 30 hours to fly a 13 hour drive due to a weather ground stoppage at Dulles. It was only six hours on the way back. So 36 hours vs about 30, accounting for stops.
That said it was cheaper to fly than drive, especially if I had overnighted in a hotel.
Way to bring attention to yourself.
Weekly safety briefing material.
Probably found out that he was on the DNCO roster for Memorial Day Weekend.
The signs at the airport say that even joking about bombs will get you arrested. I wonder how he got in the service and became an electrical repair guy without being able to read. Or he’s gotten one to many electrical shocks to the head.
I know standards have slipped over the past couple of decades since I retired, but surely someone smart enough to get into the Navy would be smart enough to figure out making a false claim like that would be a bad idea. I mean, it’s not like he’s a Marine.
I have to wonder if the person he pointed the finger at said something that made the guy truly believe there might be a bomb on board…then when all hell broke out, the fellow passenger played the innocent card: “I swear officer, I don’t know what he’s talking about, I never said anything about a bomb”.
I’m going to wait until this plays out a little before casting the first stone.
Dammit…wish I could edit posts here. I missed an opportunity.
“I mean, it’s not like he’s a Marine.”
Should have said “I mean, it’s not like he’s a Marine Corps Marine”.
Get it?
The whole “redundant” thing?
Oh, never mind…I thought it was funny.
“What would the motivation for such a false claim be?”. Um, maybe a BAC approaching .10?
Point Taken. Of course, he was a Sailor, so for it to really impair his judgement it would probably have to be closer to .20.
Well maybe in the Tyndall Navy
I see a reduction to E1 along with a Big Chicken Dinner in his future.
Congratulations, dude!
