FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A 46-year-old woman threatened there was a bomb in her checked luggage when she was told she couldn’t board a flight at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport because of her late arrival at the gate, authorities say.
It happened at about 8:45 p.m. Monday in Terminal 3 at FLL.
Passengers were evacuated from the plane, which had been taxiing on the runway, as the Broward Sheriff’s Office’s bomb squad investigated. The FBI was also contacted.
BSO found no actual threat but arrested Marina Verbitsky, of Chicago.
She is accused of cursing at three JetBlue employees when she, her husband and child were not allowed to board the flight.
An arrest report says Verbitsky had “malicious intent” when she made the bomb threat.
She is being held at the Main Jail in Fort Lauderdale and faces one count of false reporting concerning planting a bomb, explosive or weapon of mass destruction, authorities say.
Verbitsky appeared in court Tuesday. Her bond was set at $10,000, and she must undergo a mental health evaluation.