A 41-year-old man is in police custody in Scotland after falsely claiming he was going to explode an airplane.
It happened on an easyJet flight to Glasgow in which the man began yelling that he wanted to take the life of the U.S. President, and that he was in possession of a device to explode the aircraft.
Passengers quickly subdued the man until the plane landed, and police were able to arrest him.
Highlights
- Police in Scotland have a 41-year-old man in custody after he threatened to explode an easyJet flight.
- The man began shouting threats while onboard, including violent acts directed at the U.S. President.
- Passengers wrestled the man to the floor, holding him there until the plane landed and police could arrest him.
“I’m going to b*mb the plane!” A man shouts disturbing phrases on a flight to Glasgow
Image credits: Wolfgang Weiser / Pexels (not the actual photo)
Image credits: newcivilengineer
It happened on easyJet flight EZY609 from Luton to Glasgow on Sunday morning, media say.
A man who witnesses say is about six feet (1.8m) tall stood in the aisle near the bathroom shouting: "I'm going to b*mb the plane! D*ath to America! D*ath to Trump!” while pumping his fist in the air.
Image credits: Jackie Alexander / Unsplash (not the actual photo)
The man also uttered phrases in Arabic that are often associated with attacks, but was quickly tackled to the floor by other passengers.
Image credits: MarinaMedvin / X
People on the plane, meanwhile, did their best to remain calm. In videos posted to social media, the man can be seen lying on the floor while passengers ask him a series of questions.
"Do you have a b*mb?" one person inquired, as others asked him about whether he had been drinking or taking illegal substances.
Image credits: MarinaMedvin / X
People can be seen walking precariously over the person on the ground.
“Yes, I’m calm now,” the man told police as they hoisted him off the ground.
Image credits: MarinaMedvin / X
As he’s being led away, the man turned to ask his fellow passengers, “My phone and wallet?”
To which someone in the crowd replied, “F**k off”. The remaining passengers let off steam with a chuckle.
The incident happened while the U.S. President was in Scotland for meetings and to play golf
Image credits: MarinaMedvin / X
As reported in several publications, Police Scotland have put out a statement on the incident saying in part: “A 41-year-old man was arrested in connection and further enquiries are ongoing.”
The statement continued: “At this time we believe the incident was contained and that nobody else was involved.
“We are aware of videos circulating online and these are being assessed by counter terrorism officers.”
Image credits: Levi Meir Clancy / Unsplash (not the actual photo)
It’s not clear what the official charges are, or when he will be released.
The incident comes as the U.S. President visited Scotland to announce a trade deal with the European Union, and, of course, to play golf at his golf course, Turnberry, a prestigious course, which is vying to host a British Open in the near future.
The U.S. President played with his son, Eric Trump on Saturday, before returning to the course on Sunday.
Jokes about exploding a plane, even in private texts, can land you in trouble
Image credits: LOGAN WEAVER | @LGNWVR / Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Since the terror attacks in the U.S. on September 11, of 2001, many airlines tightened their security measures in airports and on planes.
Speaking about devices to explode planes or threatening violence while on a plane can land you in trouble that includes a hefty fine and potential jail time.
Even texting about it with your friends can land you in court.
Image credits: Ahmet Kurt / Unsplash (not the actual photo)
That’s what happened to Aditya Verma, an English national, who on July 3rd of 2022, texted his friends that he was going to blow up the easyJet plane they were all going to take on a holiday to Menorca in Spain.
While checking into his flight at London’s Gatwick airport, Verma used Snapchat to send a photo of himself to his buddies with the caption: “On my way to blow up the plane (I'm a member of the T*liban)' .”
Verma later told police that because he is of Middle Eastern descent, he and his friends often joked about him being a terrorist.
Image credits: Gabor Koszegi / Unsplash (not the actual photo)
But authorities in the U.K. and Spain did not find it funny.
Officials said his message was picked up by U.K. security as the flight was in mid-air. Spanish authorities were alerted and a fighter jet was deployed to escort the plane as it landed on the island of Menorca.
After a trial more than a year and a half later, a court ruled that Verma did not have to go to jail for his crime, but was required to pay about 117,500 euros, including fines and expenses incurred by the Spanish Ministry of Defense for providing the jet escort.
Netizens say the man will likely get what he deserves for making such serious threats
