A doctor thought it might be funny
to crack a joke about a bomb in his luggage.
Instead, he partly forced the evacuation of Miami
International airport, and earned an almost
$90,000 fine.
Manuel Alvarado, 60, will pay out $89,172 for his
"momentary lapse of reason in making these
statements," which prompted costly evacuations
and delays for airlines, and brought out a police
bomb squad, said his lawyer Brian Bieber.
Just before boarding an Avianca flight to Bogota
on October 22, a security officer asked Alvarado
routine questions; the Venezuelan doctor
responded that he was carrying C-4 explosives.
Though he corrected himself and said he was just
joking, it was too late for airport authorities'
taste.
"He is extremely remorseful. He had no intent to
place anyone in fear. He made what turned out to
be the worst mistake of his life," Bieber said.
Alvaro will pay the fine in a deal that saw
prosecutors agree to drop charges of making a
false bomb threat and criminal mischief. Once he
has paid, the surgeon can return home, the
attorney added.
Since the September 11, 2001 strikes on US
targets, penalties for making bomb threats have
become increasingly severe.

An expensive joke..

that police officer doesn't have any sense of humor
sorry dr. you av to pay

Creamish:
An expensive joke..

indeed.