A 16-year-old teen was arrested on serious charges after making a bomb threat aboard a Spirit Airlines flight that landed at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office. The incident unfolded yesterday afternoon around 3:15 p.m., as reported by The Miami Herald. Authorities have not released the identity of the youth, who faces charges of criminal mischief and making a false report of a bomb or explosive.
In a related development, three individuals were also detained for questioning in connection to a bomb threat called in on the same plane. These detentions came as deputies responded to the security alert and secured the aircraft for investigation. Authorities stressed there is no indication of any ongoing threat to the public, yet the gravity of the situation was not to be underestimated, as passengers were deplaned and taken away by buses, leaving their personal items on the plane, a scene captured by 7News cameras.
The plane, which was destined for Kansas City, was parked on the tarmac for several hours as the Broward Sheriff's Office conducted their investigation, which included the deployment of a K-9 unit. The aircraft was later cleared by law enforcement. In a statement to 7News, a Spirit Airlines spokesperson said, “Law enforcement was requested to meet Spirit Airlines flight 1332 (FLL-MCI) prior to departure from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) due to a potential security issue. The aircraft taxied to a remote location, and Guests were safely deplaned. The plane was inspected and cleared by law enforcement. The safety of our Guests and Team Members is our top priority, and we are working to get our Guests to their destination as quickly as possible. Further questions should be directed to law enforcement.”
Although the episode caused a significant disruption to flight schedules, with the affected plane being rescheduled for a later time last night, BSO confirmed that there was no other threat to passengers. The investigation remains active, and officials have yet to disclose what, if anything, was found on the plane or detail how exactly the threat was communicated. Authorities are expected to provide an update once more information becomes available.
