Man late for flight threatened airport

♦ A French librarian who phoned in a bomb threat to Gatwick airport because he was running late for his flight has been jailed for 10 months.

Jacob Meir Abdellak’s flight to Los Angeles was ready to leave when the 47-year-old rang police eight minutes before take-off on May 11, Lewes Crown Court heard. Despite the plane being delayed for 90 minutes because of his call, Abdellak was still late and started arguing with flight attendants after they refused his boarding.

Airport staff later tracked his anonymous call to the phone he used for his original booking. Abdellak admitted the hoax on Tuesday.