Pittsburgh passengers removed from plane over concern of bomb threat, one arrested

A bomb threat at Pittsburgh International Airport led to the arrest of an Iranian Wednesday. 

According to authorities, Hossein Dehnavifard, 37, was arrested after he claimed to have a bomb in his luggage.

He was charged with making terroristic threats and threatening to use a weapon of mass destruction, despite police finding no weapon on his person or in his bags. 

At least two airline workers said they heard him claim that his luggage contained a bomb. Mr. Dehnavifard has denied this.

Mr. Dehnavifard was taken into custody soon after. 

The possibility of explosives required American Airlines to deboard the plane with more than 100 passengers. 

The plane was searched by K-9 units trained to smell explosives, and each piece of luggage was checked with X-ray devices. No trace of a bomb was detected on the plane or in Mr. Dehnavifard’s two checked bags. 

Mr. Dehnavidard was found not guilty of terrorist threats but was charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct because of an argument he had with an American Airlines employee. 

Update: This story has been updated to reflect the resulting charges in Mr. Dehnavifard’s case.