Woman makes fake bomb threat to delay missed flight

Staged security threat concept

A Chicago woman is behind bars after allegedly claiming she had a bomb in her luggage in an attempt to delay her flight.

The woman, 46-year-old Marina Verbitsky, became aggressive towards JetBlue staff at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida when she realised she missed her flight on Monday.

Verbitsky was travelling to Chicago with her husband and son when staff said their flight – which already had their check-in luggage on board – had begun taxiing without them, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Court documents revealed that she yelled profanities at airline staff and told them she had a bomb in her luggage.

The flight was forced to head back to the gate and passengers were evacuated. A thorough search was conducted, but no explosives were found.

Verbitsky was immediately taken into custody, and was charged with one count of false reporting concerning planting bomb, explosive or weapon of mass destruction, CBS Chicago reported.

“It was a mistake,” a relative told the Chicago Sun-Times.

“She was nervous about the son needing to go to school. It was a mess, but it was definitely not meant to be.”

Verbitsky’s bail was set at $10,000 and she has been ordered to undergo mental health evaluation.

Travel Weekly has contacted JetBlue for comment


Featured image source: iStock/Tero Vesalainen

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