Chicago woman accused of faking bomb threat after missing Florida flight

Fort Lauderdale, Florida - A Chicago woman was arrested in a Florida airport after allegedly making a false bomb threat, officials said.

The incident took place at Florida's Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
The incident took place at Florida's Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.  © IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

Marina Verbitsky (46) of the Old Town neighborhood, was arrested Monday night at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, the Broward Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

Verbitsky told airport employees there was a bomb in her checked luggage that was on the plane after she was told she and her party were too late to board the plane, deputies said.

She was apparently trying to get take off delayed so she and her son could still get on. "She was nervous about the son needing to go to school. It was a mess, but it was definitely not meant to be," a relative told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

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Verbitsky was taken into custody and the plane, which was taxiing the runway, was rerouted. Passengers were evacuated, and after the plane was inspected the threat was considered unfounded, deputies said.

Verbitsky was held at the Broward County Jail and is facing one count of false reporting concerning planting a bomb, explosive or weapon of mass destruction, the sheriff’s office said.

Cover photo: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

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