Man charged after dynamite joke causes evacuation at Miami airport
MIAMI (AP) - A concourse at Miami International Airport was partially evacuated after a man allegedly joked that he had dynamite in his luggage.
Miami-Dade police say 63-year-old Alejandro Hurtado, of Guatemala, made the remark Monday when a TACA Airlines ticket agent asked if he was carrying any hazardous materials.
Police say that when the agent told him he was calling police, Hurtado said he was only joking.
Bomb squad officers responded and searched Hurtado's bag but found no explosives. Concourse J was partially evacuated. Hurtado was taken into custody and charged with falsely reporting a bomb at an airport.
Airport officials say the investigation delayed one outgoing Avianca Airlines flight by an hour. Some arriving international arrivals were also delayed because of the evacuation.
Miami-Dade police say 63-year-old Alejandro Hurtado, of Guatemala, made the remark Monday when a TACA Airlines ticket agent asked if he was carrying any hazardous materials.
Police say that when the agent told him he was calling police, Hurtado said he was only joking.
Bomb squad officers responded and searched Hurtado's bag but found no explosives. Concourse J was partially evacuated. Hurtado was taken into custody and charged with falsely reporting a bomb at an airport.
Airport officials say the investigation delayed one outgoing Avianca Airlines flight by an hour. Some arriving international arrivals were also delayed because of the evacuation.
Well that's just hilarious Mr. Hurtado...I'm sure that everyone in the airport thought it was a hoot as well.
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I wonder though whether anyone with a real "b..b" would be stupid enough to make such a comment? Mr. "I told you so" maybe. Â
 @Komo Dragon I can see someone being stupid enough to think that saying it jokingly would get them through easier, like the screener would chuckle heartily as if in agreement that it's a silly thought and question to have to ask.Â
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Even before the Sept. 11 attacks there was absolutely zero tolerance for jokes about explosives or the always-asked whether your bag has been out of your control or line of sight at any point.
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But good Lord, a 63-year-old man being this stupid nowadays?? Is this pinhead even safe to be walking around unsupervised, much less traveling by plane?
He gets the dumb-butt award of the day.....
 @The WA Mama Two cheeks up.Â
In Miami of all places!Â
@Susabelle what does miami have to do with anything?
That was pretty stupid to do, especially at Miami. I've been there twice after 9/11 and the security persons are really jittery there - more so than other airports that I've been at but I understand it.Â
I was standing in line at the airport and the girl behind me read the sign aloud that said it was a crime even to make jokes about hazardous materials or explosives in your luggage. She then said "Oh right, like there's a bomb in my Teddy bear..." Â
 @Xirxious Xirxious, shouting after flailing idiot being dragged away in shackles: "Hey, can I have your tiny bag of pretzels? It doesn't look like you'll be eating them anytime soon!"
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Bonus points for your Beeker avatar. :^D
 @Xirxious I had to detain one idiot teenager for making a similar comment at the airport. It was an international flight and this guy was trying to scare people around. I am glad I could get on my flight but I don't think he made it.Â
Stupid ass comments are not jokes to airline ticket agents or anyone else that works security in an airport.