Rhode Island man charged for false threat that grounded flight to T.F. Green

JACKSONVILLE, F.L. (WLNE) — United States Attorney Roger Handberg announced that a Rhode Island man is facing charges for making false threats that grounded a Breeze Airways flight from Orlando to Providence.

According to court documents, on 41-year-old Evan Sims is charged with false information and threats regarding the possession of an explosive on an airplane.

Officials said that on December 5, Sims was traveling on a flight from Orlando. Before the plane took off, Sims began arguing with the person he was traveling with.

Sims allegedly told that person he had never heard of the airline for the flight and that he hoped the airplane did not “go down.” Sims allegedly stated that they would be “gone with the wind.”

During boarding and the airline safety briefing, Sims allegedly made comments to his travel companion that he hoped they did not have to use the windows. He further questioned the flight crew regarding he emergency life raft that was in the overhead storage compartment.

Sims’ travel companion and surrounding passengers were uncomfortable with his statements and asked him to stop.

As the flight began its initial ascent, Sims allegedly stood up in his seat and shouted that he wanted to get off the plane. While it was airborne, Sims said twice that the person he was flying with had a bomb on the plane.

Due to the comments and escalating behavior, officials said the flight was diverted to Jacksonville International Airport. Bomb-detecting dogs searched the plane but never found a bomb.