The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
Call of Duty game sparks bomb scare, forces US airport evacuation
Call of Duty player's conversation triggers bomb scare at California airport, forcing aircraft evacuation before police rules out any threat
A passenger playing the video game Call of Duty prompted a bomb scare at Ontario International Airport, leading authorities to evacuate a Frontier Airlines aircraft and part of the terminal.
The incident occurred shortly before 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8, as the Frontier Airlines aircraft was preparing for departure, according to the Ontario Police Department.
A traveler overheard references to bombs and explosions during a phone conversation and alerted the cabin crew, triggering a security response and an evacuation of the aircraft and the eastern section of Terminal 2 as a precaution.
Police detained the passenger whose conversation raised concerns, but investigation indicated the situation arose from a misunderstanding involving the online combat game, with the individual explaining he was playing Call of Duty while speaking via FaceTime.
Security teams searched the aircraft and found no explosives, and authorities determined no criminal offense had occurred. All passengers, including the detained individual, were allowed to reboard and continue their journey; the destination of the flight was not disclosed.