Student calls in hoax bomb threat on French EasyJet flight to stop his parents visiting him
- French student called in a bomb threat to flight to stop his parents from visiting
- EasyJet plane from Lyon to Rennes had to return to airport shortly after take-off
- The 23-year-old man was arrested by police and could face five years in prison
A French EasyJet flight was forced to make an emergency landing after a bomb hoax was called in by a student to stop his parents from visiting him.
The 23-year-old student made the anonymous threat against the EasyJet flight travelling from Lyon to Rennes last Friday.
Flight EZY4319 was reportedly carrying 159 passengers, but was forced to turn around and return to Lyon shortly after take-off just before 3pm.
Police later arrested the man who confessed to creating ‘false news compromising the safety of an aircraft in flight’, airlive.net reports.
The easyJet flight from Lyon to Rennes was forced to turn back shortly after take off after a bomb hoax was made to authorities
Flight EZY4319 was reportedly carrying 159 passengers, but was forced to turn around and return to Lyon shortly after take-off just before 3pm
His parents were travelling on board the aircraft and he did not want to see them – so much so that called in the hoax, according to prosecutors.
The public prosecutor of Rennes in a statement: ‘The author of the facts has been identified.
‘It is a student Rennes of 23 years old who did not wish that his parents, who had taken place on board this plane, join him in Rennes.’
The flight was operated by a replacement aircraft and crew from London Luton.
The unnamed man faces up to five years in prison and a 75,000 euro (£65,300) fine.
The anonymous hoax call was made about the easyJet flight, forcing it to turn back and return to Lyon airport
A spokesman for easyJet said: ‘EasyJet can confirm that flight EZY4319 from Lyon to Rennes on January 18 returned to Lyon as a result of security related issue.
‘The captain took the decision as a precaution only.
‘The aircraft landed safely and was met by the fire brigade and the police in line with procedures.
‘Passengers disembarked normally and were provided with information and refreshments.
‘The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew is easyJet’s highest priority.’
The suspect is currently in custody and will appear in court in May.