On his 27th birthday, Mack Bjorn from Reno, Nevada, experienced an unexpected turn of events when a joke he made about a bomb led to his removal from a JetBlue Airways flight. The incident occurred as Bjorn was boarding a flight at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, destined for San Francisco on February 17. According to a Broward County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, Bjorn made a comment suggesting that the TSA had overlooked a bomb in his bag.
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A fellow passenger overheard the remark and informed a flight attendant, prompting a query about his statement. Bjorn reiterated his joke to the airline staff, leading to his immediate escort off the plane and subsequent arrest. Despite his refusal to be interviewed without legal representation, an investigation confirmed that no bomb was present, as stated in the arrest documentation, as reported by PEOPLE.
Bjorn faced charges for making a false bomb report, a serious offense classified as a second-degree felony under the law. Following his legal response, he submitted a written plea of not guilty and was released from Broward County jail. His attorney, George Reyes, was a newlywed who had recently returned home from a cruise and had no history of criminal behavior. Reyes acknowledged the gravity of the charges but emphasized his c lack of malicious intent, describing the incident as a poorly judged attempt at humor rather than an actual threat. He stated, “My client regrets the incident, which allegedly stemmed from a joke with no intent to cause fear or harm.”
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Reyes further elaborated on their cooperation with the legal process, aiming to prove the absence of any criminal intent in Bjorn’s remark. He appealed for patience and understanding from the public while underscoring the importance of adhering to the principles of justice, including the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.