Allegheny County Police have arrested an Iranian national in connection with a bomb threat at Pittsburgh International Airport on Wednesday.
Officers were dispatched at 4:35 p.m. to gate B-30 for a report of a passenger making a bomb threat.
Police said Hossein Dehnavifard, 37, was taken into custody. He is charged with terroristic threats and threat to use weapons of mass destruction.
After an extensive check of the jet and its contents, no threats were found.
All outgoing American Airlines flights were halted during the incident, which lasted several hours, according to police.
The bomb threat was reported by American Airlines gate agents.
Police said the gate agents reported that a man, later identified as Dehnavifard, was standing adjacent to the ticket podium and made a threat that his checked baggage contained a bomb.
The threat was made after he was not allowed to board the aircraft after arriving too late to board, and it was heard by two airline workers, police said.
During an interview with police, Dehnavifard said he’d arrived at the airport at about 1:30 p.m., passed through a security checkpoint, had some food, donned ear pods and may have missed hearing the page call for his flight, according to court documents.
Police said Dehnavifard told them he went to the boarding gate at about 4:30 p.m., initially was told he could proceed to his flight but then was told he’d missed it as the doors to the jet way had been shut.
According to the court documents, Dehnavifard said he then stated to two airline staff members, “What if I had a bomb in my bags?” while those staffers told police Dehnavifard said, “I have a bomb in my bag.”
The FBI and federal Transportation Security Administration workers responded and joined the investigation.
Police said Dehnavifard intended to fly to Iran. He was taken to the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh.
More than 100 passengers onboard the plane were escorted off the plane and part of the airport’s B concourse was closed.
The jet was searched by Allegheny County Police officers and FBI agents.
Police dogs trained to detect explosives were used and x-ray machines were used to search the plane and luggage.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office was notified, and the TSA may impose a civil penalty.
Anyone with information about the incident can call the county police tipline 833-ALL-TIPS. Callers can remain anonymous.
