U.S. airline passenger could face 10-year prison for fake bomb threat

A passenger from the United States could face 10 years in jail for a fake bomb threat on a flight between the Dominican Republic and New York City, officials said Friday.

The Dominican Republic's Specialized Body for Airport Security and Civil Aviation (CESAC) said the incident Thursday night forced the JetBlue pilot to return to the Caribbean nation's capital Santo Domingo after an hour into the flight.

The passenger, which local daily El Nacional identified as Frank Bruno Diaz, a Dominican American, acted in a "violent" manner and claimed to be a "terrorist," according to CESAC.

Diaz demanded the plane return to the island or he would detonate a bomb. The threat, which turned out to be fake, caused panic among the passengers.

CESAC said the man will be charged with violating the country's airport security and civil aviation laws, and could face up to 10 years in jail.

But the Public Prosecutor's Office told local daily Listin Diario that breaking such laws can carry a sentence of 20 to 30 years in prison.

The bomb scare closed one of the air terminals for almost three hours, disrupting seven other flights.

All 144 passengers and six crew members underwent inspection, as did the plane. Endi