Bomb joke backfires, grounds plane (NYC to Fort Lauderdale)

CNN ^ | September 14, 2002 Posted: 6:36 PM EDT (2236 GMT) | CNN Producer Laura Dolan contributed to this report.

[weegee]

NEW YORK (CNN) -- A Delta Air Lines flight about to leave LaGuardia Airport for Fort Lauderdale Saturday afternoon returned to the gate after a passenger told a flight attendant he had brought a bomb onboard, police said.

Passengers were taken off the plane and the man was arrested, said Port Authority Police Sgt. John O'Donnell. A search of the man's luggage and the plane, with at least one bomb-sniffing dog, turned up no explosives, O'Donnell said.

[janetgreen]

Rocket scientist, for sure.

[xJones]

He makes Forrest Gump look like Albert Einstein.

[Rocksalt]

That was not the right thing to say on an airliner nowadays. This would probobly merit "idiot ofthe week" award. He could have thrown in "I have a boxcutter too" in there to really liven things up a bit.

[HairOfTheDog]

"I shouldn't have said that." Yeah, dude, that's right. People have been telling you for years not to say that, and they are particularly freaky about it now.

I am gonna guess that a reasonable person could assess pretty quickly whether this was a real threat, but they have to be tough about it I suppose.

However, reasonable responses don't happen a lot any more. How many hours did we close a freeway for yesterday when someone made a joke?

He is lucky they only arrested him, they might have blown up his luggage ;~D

[Las Vegas Dave]

Another RAT voter heading home to console Janet Reno !

[JZoback]

"I shouldn't have said that."

Probably the understatement of the year.

This guy needs about a month in prison to get a clue.

[hole_n_one]

Man on cell phone: Hi, Jack

[Labyrinthos]

Of course, if he was middle eastern and made a joke about a bomb in Miami while eating at a diner in Georgia that was overheard by a white southern female, he would be released without charges and the press and the ACLU would rip the white southern lady to shreads because she's obviously a racist.

[sigSEGV]

[JZoback]

That was not the right thing to say on an airliner nowadays.

When has it been?

I'll flown for years and there is always a sign posted somewhere in the airport that tells you "say stupid things and you will be arrested"

[LibKill]

"Can you say 'stupid beyond any recognition'?"

I thought you could.

[Rocksalt]

The same goes for banks and all places where reasonable security is observed.

[syriacus]

Unbelievable!!!

What will happen next?

I think CNN should find a word other than "Joke" to describe what happened.

"Joke" just plain seems wrong.

[boris]

"Flight 1503 was scheduled to leave at 3:30 p.m. Saturday when a flight attendant asked the male passenger to take off some electronic equipment he was using."

She actually said, "Take off every zig," to which he replied: "Someone set us up the bomb."

--Boris

[mhking]

"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....

If you want on or off this list, please let me know!

[piasa]

Chances are he's going to get a lot more than that.

[Area51]

The man was about 6 feet tall, heavy set, with olive skin and dark hair. She said he had no foreign accent.

Norman Mineta will do anthing for a little Press, won't he? :)

[laconic]

A candidate for the annual Reverse Darwin awards.

[cubreporter]

You know I dont' know what makes these people so stupid!!! They are either stupid or so arrogant that they think joking about a bomb on an airliner would be taken lightly. Personally, I am sick and tired of these trouble makers. Just like the three idiots making those remarks in the Shoney's.

It's NOT funny, should NOT be tolerated and everyone who takes part in these assinine pranks ought to pay the price through jail time and a fine. Then maybe next time, they will think twice before they pull their stupid little joke. Who do they think they are when they frighten people, tie up airline schedules, inconvenience the traveling public and who knows what else?

Where in the hell are the brains of these jokers? I'm sorry for the curse word. I'm JUST SOOOOOO very weary, sick and tired of hearing these kinds of idiotic acts from out and out idiots. When and where does it stop?

Let's start putting them in jail and making them pay a hefty fine. They would deserve it. I swear people have lost their common sense, dignity, moral highground and respect for others. It's absolutely disgusting anymore.