Emergency Worker Who Sent False Missile Alert Fired For Scaring The Crap Out Of Hawaii

by Ryan Pickrell

The emergency worker who terrified Hawaii with a false missile alert earlier this month has been fired, according to The Associated Press.

A little over two weeks ago, the people of Hawaii woke up to a horrifying message: “BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT IN BOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.” The message was sent in error, but very few people knew that until a notification was sent out over half an hour later.

The false alarm sent terror across the Aloha State, spreading fear and chaos. After a year characterized by heightened tensions with North Korea, which has threatened to strike Hawaii, such an alert had many convinced that the unthinkable had finally happened.

An investigation was launched to determine the cause of the incident, and the “employee who issued the alert [was] temporarily reassigned pending the outcome of our internal investigation.” The Federal Communications Commission announced Tuesday the emergency worker who sent the fake alert misheard a message played during a spontaneous drill organized by the individual’s supervisor and incorrectly assumed that a strike was imminent.

For creating a “terrifying day when our worst nightmares appeared to become a reality,” as Gov. David Ige, D said, the Hawaii emergency management administrator resigned, and the worker who issued the false alert was fired.

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org