The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
On July 6, a 27-year-old Liberty University student boarded an Allegiant Airlines flight leaving St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport in Florida with a destination of Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport in Virginia. The man, who had a laptop with him, took his seat next to a woman. About half an hour after the flight took off, he reportedly began telling her that the laptop was actually a bomb. Several others on the flight reported that they heard him say the same thing, and the flight crew was made aware of the situation.
Due to the serious nature of the alleged threat, when the pilot was informed about what was going on, they immediately turned the plane around and flew back to St. Pete-Clearwater. The authorities were notified, and deputies, including a K9, from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office were waiting at the terminal when the flight landed. They went into the aircraft and approached the suspect, and the K9 checked the man’s carry-ons. Nothing unusual was detected, and the deputies ushered him off the plane without incident. When they talked to him about what was going on, the man informed them that he sustained a severe Grade 3 concussion, which causes long-term neurological issues, while playing high school football. He also let them know he had recently been in a mental health facility.
The man was taken into custody and booked into the Pinellas County Jail. He is facing preliminary charges of felony making threats and felony false information in the first degree. According to facility records, he was released the following day. If he is convicted of the charges, he could spend up to five years in prison, in addition to paying a hefty fine. The FBI has taken over the investigation.