Man Arrested in Air France Bomb Hoax After Emergency Landing
Passenger accused of leaving a fake bomb in the restroom.
— -- A man is in custody in Paris in connection to a bomb scare on an Air France flight from Mauritius that caused an emergency landing in Kenya, officials said.
All 459 passengers and 14 crew members were safely evacuated, and most passengers had returned to Paris today.
The man, who has not been identified, was detained at Charles de Gaulle Airport this morning. He was a passenger on the Paris-bound flight from Mauritius.
“He is being questioned for obstructing air traffic,” a French Border Police spokesman told ABC News.
The Boeing 777 was on route when a passenger noticed an object in the restroom that looked like "a stopwatch mounted on a box.” The pilot landed the plane and passengers were informed of the reason for the landing only after the plane was safe on the ground and fully evacuated.
Air France CEO Frederic Gagey described the device as made of cardboard and a timer. Gagey later said the airline would press charges against those responsible and an inquiry would be held.
Air France also confirmed to ABC News that the company has submitted a judicial complaint against an unknown person for endangering the life of others.
