Man Accused Of Calling In Bomb Threats After Missing Flight

Svein Johannessen allegedly made two calls from inside Philadelphia International Airport.
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A man from Norway called in two hoax bomb threats to Philadelphia International Airport on Thursday because he was running late for his rescheduled flight and wanted it delayed, police say.

Svein Johannessen, 30, allegedly made two calls to 911 in the space of an hour after missing his first flight with British Airways to Heathrow Airport in London, Chief Inspector Joe Sullivan told the Philadelphia Daily News.

Johannessen and an unidentified traveling companion were desperate to make their rearranged flight, NBC Philadelphia reported.

He is accused of making the first call, in which he reported a bomb at the Terminal A baggage claim, from a pay phone inside the airport at 3:25 p.m., Sullivan said.

About an hour later, Johannessen allegedly demanded in a second call that all British Airways aircraft at the airport be grounded, per the Philadelphia Daily News.

It's unclear why Johannessen wanted to delay his flight when he was already at the airport. But Sullivan said investigators traced the calls to a pay phone and surveillance camera footage revealed Johannessen as the caller.

Johannessen, who is from Kristiansand, was arrested without incident, according to WPVI, and faces felony charges of making bomb and terroristic threats.

He remains in custody, pending formal arraignment. Security swept the baggage claim area and the threats were deemed unfounded at 6:30 p.m., according to CBS Philadelphia.

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