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 stated that the announcer did not break any law.
New Details on Jim Thornton’s Plane Incident
Jim Thornton’s lawyer has shared more information about the incident with TMZ. The situation reportedly occurred during a commercial flight in May 2026. A fellow passenger allegedly lodged a complaint against Thornton to the staff.
The complaint eventually led to law enforcement getting involved. However, Thornton’s attorney claims officers quickly cleared him, stating 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 emphasized 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, stating they are 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 reported that Flight 1276 arrived at Los Angeles International Airport, where law enforcement met the flight after concerns were raised onboard.
Thornton has worked on Wheel of Fortune for over a decade and has been involved in more than 2,200 episodes. He continues to announce Celebrity Wheel of Fortune. Despite his suspension, Thornton still appeared on a recent episode that was reportedly recorded before his suspension and aired while Sony continues investigating the allegations.
