A 41-year-old man was arrested after making a bomb threat and shouting anti-American and anti-Trump slogans aboard an easyJet flight from London Luton to Glasgow on July 27. The incident prompted an emergency landing at Glasgow Airport around 8:20 a.m. local time.
According to reports, the man, believed to be an Indian national living in the UK, emerged from the restroom shouting “Allahu Akbar,” “Death to America,” and “Death to Trump.” He also claimed to have a bomb. Alarmed passengers quickly tackled him, and Police Scotland detained him upon landing. No explosive device was found on board.
The flight, easyJet EZY609, was en route to Scotland while President Donald Trump was visiting his Turnberry golf resort nearby. Although the suspect reportedly later admitted he had no bomb and claimed he only wanted to “send a message” to Trump, the incident triggered a full counterterrorism response. Authorities have not confirmed if Trump was a direct target.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes on board. One passenger told The Sun the man, who appeared tall and agitated, pushed female flight attendants before being restrained. Other passengers criticized him for frightening families and children on board.
The suspect is expected to appear in Paisley Sheriff Court on July 28. Police Scotland said the incident appears to be isolated and confirmed that a counterterrorism investigation is underway to determine the man’s motives and mental state.
Speculation about the man’s identity has circulated on social media. Some posts, including from user @xavierjp__, claim the man may be named Abhay Devdas Nayak and suggest he may have pretended to be Muslim to provoke a reaction. These claims remain unverified, and authorities have not confirmed the suspect’s identity or religious background.
The case has sparked broader debate online about biases in media coverage and assumptions about terrorism. Critics say the reaction might have been different if the suspect had been confirmed as Muslim, citing past incidents where identity influenced public and media response.
Police continue to investigate and urge the public not to jump to conclusions as official details are still emerging.
