The Voice Behind 15 Years of 'Wheel of Fortune' Suspended... U.S. Broadcasting Industry Stirred by Aircraft Incident

Police Dispatched After Passenger Complaint
Specific Allegations Not Yet Disclosed

Jim Thornton, 61, who has served as the announcer for the long-running and popular American game show "Wheel of Fortune" for 15 years, has been suspended from appearing on the program due to allegations related to an incident that took place on an aircraft.

On September 2 (local time), U.S. media outlets including the Washington Post, TMZ, and Page Six reported that Sony Pictures Television, which produces "Wheel of Fortune," has recently become aware of allegations involving Thornton and has launched an internal investigation.

Jim Thornton, who has served as an announcer on Wheel of Fortune for an impressive 15 years. Photo by USA Today

Sony stated, "We have recently been made aware of allegations involving Jim Thornton," adding, "He has been suspended from appearing on 'Wheel of Fortune,' and while a thorough investigation is underway, we are recasting the announcer role." However, Sony did not disclose the specific nature of the allegations against Thornton. Foreign media have reported that the current investigation is believed to be connected to an incident that occurred aboard an American Airlines flight in May 2026.

According to TMZ, at the time, a passenger on the same flight raised concerns about Thornton with the crew, after which the pilot requested that law enforcement be on standby upon arrival. Once the aircraft landed at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Thornton had a conversation with police and then left the scene without being detained or arrested.

American Airlines also confirmed that police were dispatched to the flight. The airline stated, "On May 14, 2026, American Airlines Flight 1276 was met by law enforcement at Los Angeles International Airport due to concerns raised by a customer on board." However, American Airlines did not confirm whether the passenger involved was indeed Thornton. Thornton's representatives have denied all allegations, insisting that there was no illegal conduct.

Thornton's attorney told TMZ, "Thornton did not engage in any illegal activity, nor has he been arrested or charged with any crime." He added, "Law enforcement spoke with Thornton for less than five minutes in connection with the complaint raised by a fellow passenger, after which he was told he was free to go."

Since 2011, Thornton has served as the official announcer of "Wheel of Fortune," becoming known to viewers through his signature off-screen voice after taking over from longtime announcer Charlie O'Donnell, who passed away in 2010. Thornton primarily introduced contestants and prizes off-camera and also acted as the announcer for "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune."

He has been involved in other productions such as "The Price Is Right," "The Soup," and "The Cleveland Show," and has also worked as a voice actor in projects including the Pixar animated film "Monsters, Inc." "Wheel of Fortune" is considered one of America's most iconic long-running game shows. After longtime host Pat Sajak stepped down from the regular program in 2024, Ryan Seacrest took over as host, and Vanna White remains as co-host. Sony stated that they intend to recast Thornton's role while the investigation continues. However, since the specific details of the allegations have not yet been disclosed and Thornton and his team have denied all claims of illegal activity, arrest, or charges, attention is focused on the results of Sony's investigation and whether Thornton will return to the program.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.