Oct. 15 (UPI) — A terminal at LaGuardia International Airport in New York was evacuated Saturday after a disgruntled customer told a ticket agent there was a bomb in his bag.
Port Authority police responded and evacuated people to the sidewalk outside Terminal B, and officers diverted traffic away from the area. The New York Police Department bomb squad responded and investigated the bag the man was carrying, determining the threat was a hoax.
Witnesses said the suspect, John Park, 70, of Farmington, Mich., was attempting to purchase a ticket at the Spirit Airline counter Saturday morning when he began arguing with the employee. The New York Daily News reported the fight was over a $50 bag fee.
The suspect became irate and told the ticket agent to keep his bag, which he said contained a bomb.
Port Authority police arrested Park, and a spokesman said charges are pending.
The airport said normal operations resumed by 9:30 a.m.
