SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) - Authorities said Friday that they have detained a U.S. man who forced a New York-bound JetBlue flight to turn back because he made drunken threats to detonate a terrorist bomb.
Airport security officials said in a statement that the incident forced the plane to return to Santo Domingo on Thursday. Officials closed a terminal for several hours and a least seven other flights were delayed as a result.
Authorities identified the man as 27-year-old Frank Bruno Diaz, who is scheduled to appear in court soon. It was not immediately clear if he was traveling alone or if he had an attorney. A photo of his passport published by the newspaper El Dia showed his birthplace listed as New York.
JetBlue officials did not return calls for comment.
Prosecutor Olga Llaverias said she plans to charge Diaz with terrorism because officials believe he put the plane’s six crew members and 144 passengers at risk.
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