21 January 2024 , 17:18
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A British tourist is facing a massive fine and compensation claim of more than £100,000 after sparking a major bomb alert on an Easjet holiday flight to Spain.
The man, identified only as A.V, was waiting for his plane at London's Gatwick Airport when he allegedly posted a message on the social network claiming to be a member of the Taliban and saying he had planted a bomb. The threat led to a full-scale emergency operation and the flight being intercepted on its way to Menorca in the Balearics by a Spanish Air Force fighter jet.
The incident happened on July 3, 2022 but the man, who was 18 at the time, is due to be tried on Monday. The Prosecutor's Office is asking the Central Criminal Court of the National Court to fine him 22,500 euros and to compensate the Ministry of Defence with another 94,782 euros for the expenses of sending up the Eurofighter fighter. The jet escorted the plane, with 142 passengers on board, into the holiday airport.
The prosecutor says the man was at Gatwick Airport at the check-in desk when he sent a message through Snapchat to the group of friends with whom he was flying. The message contained a photograph of himself with the phrase "on the way to fly the plane (I am a member of the Taliban)".
This message was captured by the United Kingdom security services when the plane was flying over French airspace and they notified the Spanish authorities.
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The Palma control tower informed the head of coordination at the Menorca airport that the flight from Gatwick was being escorted by a Spanish Air Force fighter, a Eurofighter, due to a bomb threat.
Once on the ground, after a thorough inspection, the Civil Guard verified that it was a false alarm. However, the author of the threats was arrested for public disorder.
The Civil Guard had to activate a special operation made up of specialists in explosives deactivation, dog handlers and members of the Fiscal and Border Patrol and Citizen Security. During the thorough inspection of the aircraft, a security perimeter was established. They also had to check all luggage.
Once the Civil Guard specialists determined that the bomb threat was false, the agents identified the author of the message on a social network. This subject was one of the passengers, who was traveling with five companions.
The British man was arrested for a crime of public disorder.
The operation of the Menorca airport was not altered. It was not necessary to close the airspace or divert flights to other airports in the archipelago, Aena said at the time.
It is not clear whether the man has to appear in person or whether he has already entered a plea.