Airbubba
11th Oct 2002, 20:40
The phony bomb threat is a classic ploy in some countries where punctuality is a novel concept. American Airlines got in trouble after the Cali crash for mentioning this in a Latin America guide (see http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/pilotguide2.shtml )
A Columbian was convicted in STL a few years ago of phoning in a bomb threat to LAX so his girlfriend could make a connection on an Asian carrier.
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October 11, 2002
Man Sentenced in London Airport Hoax
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 3:41 p.m. ET
LONDON (AP) -- A 23-year-old man was sentenced Friday to serve five years in prison after claiming there were explosives aboard a plane at London's Heathrow airport.
Yasrub Hussain Shah arrived at the airport for a flight to Pakistan on July 28, but was told he was too late to board. He became angry and told check-in staff that if he could not board, the plane would not leave, prosecutors told Isleworth Crown Court.
Moments later, Shah called police from his mobile phone and said: "Pakistan International Airlines, there is a bomb on it leaving at 8 p.m.''
The call sparked a security alert, and passengers and luggage were unloaded from the plane while officers searched the aircraft. No bomb was found.
Detectives traced the call to Shah's mobile phone, and when he arrived at Heathrow four days later for an another flight he was arrested.
Shah, from Luton, near London, pleaded guilty to making the hoax call.
A Columbian was convicted in STL a few years ago of phoning in a bomb threat to LAX so his girlfriend could make a connection on an Asian carrier.
____________________________________________
October 11, 2002
Man Sentenced in London Airport Hoax
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 3:41 p.m. ET
LONDON (AP) -- A 23-year-old man was sentenced Friday to serve five years in prison after claiming there were explosives aboard a plane at London's Heathrow airport.
Yasrub Hussain Shah arrived at the airport for a flight to Pakistan on July 28, but was told he was too late to board. He became angry and told check-in staff that if he could not board, the plane would not leave, prosecutors told Isleworth Crown Court.
Moments later, Shah called police from his mobile phone and said: "Pakistan International Airlines, there is a bomb on it leaving at 8 p.m.''
The call sparked a security alert, and passengers and luggage were unloaded from the plane while officers searched the aircraft. No bomb was found.
Detectives traced the call to Shah's mobile phone, and when he arrived at Heathrow four days later for an another flight he was arrested.
Shah, from Luton, near London, pleaded guilty to making the hoax call.