Law enforcement officials work around a US Airways flight at Philadelphia International Airport, after the plane returned to the airport, Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012, in Philadelphia. A security scare that prompted authorities to recall an airborne U.S. flight was the result of an apparent hoax, police said Thursday. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Law enforcement officials work around a US Airways flight at Philadelphia International Airport, after the plane returned to the airport, Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012, in Philadelphia. A security scare that prompted authorities to recall an airborne U.S. flight was the result of an apparent hoax, police said Thursday. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
This Sept. 6 2012 photo provided by the DFW Airport Department of Public Safety shows Christopher Shell. When flying home to Texas to celebrate his 29th birthday on Thursday, Shell became became the unwitting victim of a midair explosives hoax that forced the plane's return to Philadelphia. He was escorted off the aircraft at gunpoint, then cleared of any link to explosives. Later Thursday, Shell ended up getting arrested on outstanding warrants when the plane reached Dallas. (AP Photo/DFW Airport Department of Public Safety)
FBI Special Agent Richard Quinn speaks during a news conference near the Philadelphia International Airport Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012, in Philadelphia. A security scare that prompted authorities to recall an airborne U.S. flight was the result of an apparent hoax, police said Thursday. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Philadelphia police Chief Inspector Joseph Sullivan speaks during a news conference near the Philadelphia International Airport Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012, in Philadelphia. A security scare that prompted authorities to recall an airborne U.S. flight was the result of an apparent hoax, police said Thursday. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) ? A love triangle is what authorities are blaming for a midair explosives scare that led to an aborted flight and a man being taken into custody twice in two states within about 12 hours.
The curious case of Christopher Shell began Thursday in Philadelphia, apparently triggered by a Facebook photo he posted of his ex-girlfriend and fueled by his feud with her and her new boyfriend. It ended Friday in Texas.
Within that time, Philadelphia police recalled Shell's Dallas-bound flight and marched him off the aircraft at gunpoint; Shell cleared his name; authorities arrested the new beau, Kenneth W. Smith Jr., on charges of making a hoax threat about Shell and explosives; and Shell was taken into custody again, arrested on drug charges, when he finally reached Texas to celebrate his 29th birthday.
Both Shell and Smith posted bonds Friday in their respective cases. Shell declined to comment. Smith's lawyer, Bill Brennan, described his client as "embarrassed" by the consequences of the alleged threat.
"My client is very, very sobered by the amount of attention this has received," Brennan said after Smith's initial appearance in federal court in Philadelphia. "He's not very happy about it."
Passengers weren't very happy either when the scare rerouted US Airways Flight 1267 on Thursday. They were about 90 miles into their trip from Philadelphia to Dallas/Fort Worth when the aircraft turned around, allegedly due to technical problems.
After landing back at Philadelphia International Airport, heavily armed law enforcement officers boarded the plane and removed Shell. During questioning, he told authorities of the romantic feud, which involved hostile text messages with his ex and encounters with Smith, according to a federal affidavit.
Shell gave officers the name of Smith's workplace. And upon arrival, authorities said Smith acknowledged calling airport police from a payphone to say that Shell was carrying liquid explosives.
Smith said he did it to "avenge" his new girlfriend because Shell had posted a compromising picture of her on Facebook, the affidavit said.
"It is the kind of photo that would incense a boyfriend," said Brennan, Smith's lawyer.
Smith, 26, of Philadelphia, was charged with conveying false information that interfered with aviation and using an instrument of commerce ? the phone ? to do so.
If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and possible restitution.
Police on Thursday stressed that Shell, who lives in Philadelphia, was blameless for the airplane scare. He continued traveling later that day to his home state of Texas, where he planned to celebrate his birthday with friends and family. But authorities arrested him when he arrived at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
Collin County authorities said Shell had outstanding warrants for two drug-possession charges ? less than 2 ounces of marijuana and less than 28 grams of a controlled substance.
___
Associated Press videographer John Mone in Dallas contributed to this report.
Associated Presslra eric johnson eric johnson big east tournament ashley olsen new apple tv sun flare
No comments:
Post a Comment