Passengers aboard Flight 2791 from Miami to New York experienced pure terror in the skies Tuesday afternoon, after a man stood up mid-flight, screamed “Death to America!”, claimed he had a bomb in his carry-on, and then threatened former President Donald J. Trump by name in front of 178 stunned travelers.

The shocking incident unfolded just 40 minutes after takeoff, and what followed was a chaotic mix of fear, emergency landings, and explosive political speculation — all while passengers were trapped 30,000 feet in the air.

Now, the nation is demanding answers.

 Flight Turns into a Nightmare

Witnesses say the suspect — now identified as Rami Khoury, a 33-year-old dual-national with ties to the Middle East and prior arrests for assault — stood up in row 17, raised both arms, and screamed a chilling chant no one on the plane will ever forget.

“I have a bomb! Death to America! Death to Trump!”

Panic broke out instantly. Flight attendants rushed to calm passengers. Children cried. Multiple passengers attempted to tackle the man as he clutched what appeared to be a black duffel bag.

“He kept shouting about Trump and revenge,” said one passenger, Ashley V., who filmed parts of the incident on her phone. “He was totally unhinged. People thought we were going to die.”

 The Bomb Threat That Grounded a Nation

The pilot immediately declared a Level 4 emergency, the most severe classification for in-flight crises, and diverted the aircraft to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, where it was met by armed FBI agents, bomb squads, and Homeland Security personnel in full hazmat gear.

All 178 passengers were evacuated through emergency slides. Khoury was arrested on the tarmac — reportedly laughing and yelling “You can’t stop the truth!” as agents dragged him away.

Initial reports from TSA and FBI bomb technicians confirmed that no live explosives were found in his possession, but his bag contained:

Wires wrapped in duct tape
A fake circuit board
A “replica detonator”
Multiple printed photos of Donald Trump with red Xs over his face

The device was later deemed a hoax bomb, but officials said it was “extremely realistic” and **intentionally designed to terrorize.”

 “He Wanted to Make a Statement” — And He Did

While no one was physically harmed, the psychological trauma is already sparking outrage and debate across the nation.

Khoury, during FBI interrogation, reportedly stated:

“America must pay for what it did. Trump is a symbol of corruption and evil. I wanted to make a statement they couldn’t ignore.”

The suspect also claimed he had “supporters” who “would continue what he started.”

That comment alone has triggered heightened national security alerts at several major airports, including JFK, LAX, and Reagan National.

 Who Is Rami Khoury?

Little is known about Khoury beyond his social media presence — which investigators now describe as a “rabbit hole of anti-American rants, conspiracy theories, and pro-extremist propaganda.”

His X (formerly Twitter) account, under the handle @TrueDesertLion, featured posts such as:

“The Trump regime will burn. America will crumble from within.”
“They think we forgot 2020? We didn’t.”
“Revenge is coming, and it’s flying business class.”

Disturbingly, he also posted a selfie inside the Miami airport terminal just hours before the flight, captioned “Time to make a dent in the empire.”

 Mental Illness or Political Extremism?

As news broke, debates exploded online: Was Khoury a terrorist, a mentally ill individual seeking attention, or something more dangerous — a politically radicalized domestic threat?

Dr. Lena Bradford, a terrorism analyst at Georgetown University, warned:

“We are entering a new era of airborne extremism. These aren’t just threats. They’re political performances meant to traumatize the public.”

Others are drawing comparisons to the infamous “shoe bomber” and January 6 riot instigators, suggesting a frightening evolution in how radicalized individuals are targeting symbolic institutions — like Trump, or air travel itself.

 Trump Responds: “They Want to Silence Me Because I Tell the TRUTH”

Within hours of the incident, Donald Trump took to Truth Social with a scathing post:

“A radical lunatic just threatened to blow up a plane and KILL ME. This is what happens when the fake news and corrupt Biden regime allow hate to fester! They want to silence me because I tell the TRUTH. WE WILL NEVER SURRENDER.”

The post has been shared over 10 million times and has already become a major flashpoint in the 2024 presidential election cycle.

Conservatives argue it’s further proof of the danger Trump faces daily, while liberals warn against politicizing what they call an “isolated mental health crisis.”

 National Security Heightened — “This Is Just the Beginning”

The Department of Homeland Security has issued a nationwide air travel advisory, warning airlines and airport staff to be on alert for:

Unusual carry-on items
Passengers filming themselves excessively
Rehearsed or performative outbursts

In a press briefing, DHS Secretary Monica Alvarez stated:

“We are treating this as a credible attempt to incite terror and violence. The fact that the device was fake makes it no less serious. This was a direct threat to a former U.S. President and to every person on that plane.”

 The Internet Explodes

@TheRealWatchdog: “Khoury’s stunt was fake — but the fear was REAL. Is this what our country has come to?”
@AviatorMomNYC: “My son was on that flight. He’s 12. He’ll never fly again.”
@PatriotAlert: “This man said ‘Death to America’ and targeted TRUMP. Imagine if the roles were reversed. Mainstream media would be calling it terrorism already.”

 What Comes Next for Khoury?

Rami Khoury now faces a federal indictment with up to 45 years in prison, including:

Making false threats to commit terrorism
Interfering with a flight crew
Threatening a former U.S. President
Possession of a hoax device
Inciting fear and panic on public transportation

His bail has been denied, and he remains in federal custody awaiting trial.

 One Final, Chilling Detail

According to the FBI affidavit, Khoury told agents:

“I wasn’t trying to kill anyone this time. Next time, I won’t be so kind.”

Those 13 words have left a nation shaken.

What happens next could redefine air travel, political security, and freedom of speech in a post-pandemic, pre-election America.