Rhode Island man pleads guilty to making a false bomb threat that diverted plane to Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Rhode Island man who got into an argument with his travel companion and caused the flight to divert in Jacksonville pleaded guilty in federal court to the charge of making a false bomb threat on an aircraft.

Evan Sims, 41, faces up to five years in prison for an alleged bomb threat that was made on a plane that took off from Orlando and had to be diverted to Jacksonville in December.

Passengers on Breeze Airlines flight 717 said Sims used the word, “bomb,” while on the plane, but Sims told a different story during his previous court appearances.

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He told a Duval County judge that he said the word “calm” instead of bomb.

A pre-sentencing investigation needs to be completed. No sentencing date for Sims was set.