Saturday, April 02, 2016

'Today, people will die:' Police arrest pranksters who called air traffic controllers claiming there was a bomb on plane travelling at 33,000 feet: Two men and a woman have been arrested in connection to the hoax

Police have arrested two men and a woman in connection to false claims that there was a bomb inside a plane travelling at 33,000 feet.

The pranksters called air traffic controllers from a public telephone booth in the city of Cuenta, Spain, on December 14 last year.

The aircraft took off from the Spanish capital, Madrid, bound to Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Airport officials said they received the chilling message: “Today, people will die.”

The men could also be heard saying “Allah Akbar” (God is great).

After receiving the call officials ordered the plane, which was already 90 minutes into its journey, to return to Madrid.

The aircraft was escorted by a fighter jet, sparking panic among the 315 passengers onboard.

A police spokesman said: "Every passenger and every bag had to be searched on their arrival.

"No explosives were found and it was declared a hoax."

It turned out the three hoaxers were far from being terrorists, but instead connected to a Brazilian woman onboard who was ordered to leave Europe by a Swiss court.

Two men and a woman aged 44, 35, and 33, have been arrested.

As well as being liable for the economic damages caused by their prank - said to be in the region of £200,000 -- the hoaxers are also facing considerable jail time.

Original article can be found here: http://www.thesun.co.uk

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