One day after missing his flight, a Spirit Airlines passenger landed in federal court for allegedly taking his travel frustration to extremes: He called in a bomb threat, causing chaos at Detroit Metro Airport June 5 and triggering federal charges and a warrant for his arrest, prosecutors say.
According to a criminal complaint filed June 6 in U.S. District Court in Detroit, the bomb threat that led to a Spirit Airlines flight being evacuated and delayed by six hours at Metro Airport Thursday was a hoax. The person behind the hoax, the complaint says, is 23-year-old John Charles Robinson of Monroe, who prosecutors say was headed to Los Angeles Thursday morning when he missed his 7 a.m. Spirit Airlines flight and was told at the gate that he had to rebook.
Robinson, though, had another idea in mind: call in a bomb threat with the hopes of the flight being delayed long enough so that he could still make it on the plane, court records state.
But his plot was discovered.
According to an FBI agent’s affidavit on file in federal court, here is what Robinson did after being turned away from the gate:
At about 6:25 a.m. Thursday, a person called Spirit Airlines and stated the following: “I was calling about flight 2145… because I have information about that flight.”
The caller continued: “There’s gonna be someone who’s gonna try to blow up the airport,” and “there’s gonna be someone that’s gonna try to blow up that flight, 2145.”
More: Bomb threat forces Spirit Airlines plane evacuation at Detroit Metro Airport
The caller gave a description of the alleged bomber, then stated: “They’re going to be carrying a bomb through the TSA,” and, “they’re still threatening to do it, they’re still attempting to do it, they said it’s notgoing to be able to be detected. Please don’t let that flight board.”
According to the FBI, the phone call was recorded and reported to law enforcement, who responded to the gate where Spirit Airlines flight 2145 was set to depart. At this point, the doors to the plane had been closed by the flight crew. The plane was ordered to taxi to a remote location where passengers were deplaned and bussed back to the Evans Terminal.
Bomb sniffing dogs and FBI agents then swept the plane. Passengers went through additional screening, including several who were interviewed by the FBI and Wayne County Airport Police.
The investigation found no bombs on the airplane, or in any luggage.
But what authorities would eventually discover was a hoax, with cellphone records leading the FBI to Robinson, who had rebooked a 6:28 p.m. flight to Los Angeles.
But he didn’t make that flight, either.
Robinson did arrive at the terminal on time, only FBI agents showed up to interview him.
According to the complaint, Robinson initially denied making any phone calls to Spirit Airlines. Though after he gave consent to have his cellphone searched, the complaint states, the agents discovered the hoax.
Robinson then reportedly fessed up:
“(He) stated that he made the call with the hope that it would delay the flight long enough for him to make itin time so he would not have to take a different flight,” the complaint states.
Robinson was taken into custody at the airport. He made an initial court appearance Friday in U.S. District Court and was released on bond. He is charged with making a hoax and using a cellphone to threaten/maliciously convey false information in an attempt or alleged attempt to damage or destroy anairplane using an explosive.
Neither Robinson, nor his court-appointed attorney could not be reached for comment Friday.
Contact Tresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: FBI: Bomb threat to Spirit Airlines was made by frustrated passenger