Wheel of Fortune announcer Jim Thornton is reportedly facing suspension. New details about the incident being investigated have now emerged, and Thornton’s lawyer has said that the announcer did not break any law.
Wheel of Fortune announcer Jim Thornton’s plane incident gets new details
Jim Thornton’s lawyer has shared more details about the incident to TMZ. The situation reportedly happened during a commercial flight in May 2026. A fellow passenger allegedly complained about Thornton to staff.
The complaint eventually led to law enforcement getting involved. However, Thornton’s attorney says officers quickly cleared him, and he was never arrested or charged. The attorney said, “When questioned about the complaint made by a fellow passenger on the flight, law enforcement spoke to him for five minutes or less, immediately determined that no wrongdoing had occurred and told my client he was free to go.”
His lawyer stressed that Thornton did nothing illegal and has not been charged with any crime. Thornton was reportedly suspended following the alleged airline incident. Amid this, Sony Pictures Television confirmed the suspension earlier this week. The studio is temporarily recasting his announcer role.
“We have recently been made aware of allegations concerning Jim Thornton. He has been suspended from Wheel of Fortune, and we are recasting while we conduct a thorough investigation,” Sony Pictures Television stated.
American Airlines also confirmed the flight involved in the incident. The airline said Flight 1276 arrived at Los Angeles International Airport. Law enforcement met the flight after concerns were reported onboard.
Thornton has worked on Wheel of Fortune for more than a decade, and he has been involved in more than 2,200 episodes. He also continues announcing Celebrity Wheel of Fortune. Despite his suspension, Thornton still appeared on a recent episode that was reportedly recorded before his suspension. It aired while Sony continues investigating the allegations.
