Man Arrested for Fake Bomb Threat Faces Judge on Monday - Flight Diverted to Lisbon

A man suspected of issuing a false bomb threat, which forced a SATA flight bound for Bilbao to divert to Lisbon, will appear before a judge on Monday for the application of coercive measures. The incident, initially reported as a security protocol activation, began as a prank among friends, according to SIC Notícias.

The alert was triggered on Saturday afternoon when the pilot of the flight from Ponta Delgada to Bilbao had to divert to Lisbon due to a bomb threat onboard. The aircraft was directed to an "isolated and safe" area at the airport for passengers and crew to disembark. After a thorough inspection by authorities, the threat was deemed a false alarm, as confirmed by SATA.

Initially, two passengers were detained for questioning under suspicion of being responsible for the threat communication. However, by evening, the airline announced the rescheduling of the Lisbon-Bilbao leg, with the plane set to depart at 8 PM carrying 111 passengers, excluding the two suspects.

The Judicial Police (PJ), when contacted by Lusa, mentioned that one individual remains in custody for allegedly causing the situation. This individual is the one scheduled to appear before the judge on Monday.