Student Calls in Airline Bomb Hoax to Avoid Visit From Parents

A young man is in trouble with the law after he called in a bomb threat to an airline in France to delay a flight carrying his parents.

According to The Independent, the unidentified 23-year-old student reportedly placed an anonymous phone call on January 18 saying there was a bomb onboard easyJet Flight EZY4319 from Lyon to Rennes.

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The plane called for an emergency landing and returned to Lyon where officials investigated the threat. After it was determined to be a hoax, police turned their attention to tracking down the suspect and discovered it was a student residing in Rennes who did not want his parents to visit him.

The man was arrested and is due in court May 21 on charges of “false news compromising the safety of an aircraft in flight.” If convicted, he faces a fine of around $85,000 and up to five years in prison.

After being deplaned, the passengers on the impacted easyJet flight were boarded onto another aircraft and forced to wait again as a new crew of pilots had to be flown to France from London to complete the journey.

“The captain took the decision as a precaution only,” an easyJet spokesperson told The Independent. “The aircraft landed safely and was met by the fire brigade and the police in line with procedures. Passengers disembarked normally and were provided with information and refreshments.”

“The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew is easyJet’s highest priority,” the statement continued.