A passenger on a South African low-price airline flight was arrested on Thursday for allegedly telling a flight attendant he was in possession of an explosive device.
The incident at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg caused the Mango airline flight to Durban to be delayed by 18 minutes on Thursday morning, the South African Press Association (SAPA) reported.
"As the passenger boarded the JE 322, he falsely informed a flight attendant he was carrying an explosive device," Mango spokesman Hein Kaiser told SAPA.
Police could not find any hazardous material when they searched the man's luggage, he said.
"Making such threats is a serious offense and Mango will not entertain irresponsible people who attempt to disrupt its flight operations and the comfort and safety of our guests," Kaiser said.
(Xinhua News Agency March 23, 2007)