With the announcement that terrorists are doing dry runs at our nations airports and the incidents in the UK with the doctors, I wonder if this could be something more than what is being reported.

Friday, 07/27/07
Feds charge Bellevue doctor with airline bomb threats

By KATE HOWARD
Staff Writer

A local doctor who works in a Spanish-speaking medical practice is in federal custody after he admitted calling in three bomb threats to a Northwest Airlines jetliner, prompting the plane's return to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Wednesday.

Kou Wei Chiu of Bellevue is scheduled to appear in federal court for a detention hearing today on a charge of making a false threat against an aircraft. He faces up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.


Chiu graduated from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 2003 and works at Medicos Para La Familia on Nolensville Pike. Workers at the medical clinic declined to comment.

According to the federal complaint against Chiu filed Thursday, Chiu checked luggage on to Northwest Airlines flight 980 under the name of a co-worker on Wednesday, but he tried to board the plane after the door was closed and wasn't allowed to enter.

Chiu admitted using a pay phone to call 911 and made two more calls when he saw the plane was still leaving the gate, according to the federal complaint.

He told airport police he was on anti-depressant medication and had been without it for a few days, although he said he did take the medication on the day of his flight.

Passengers remained on the plane for more than an hour while police tried to determine how extensive a security sweep was needed.

About 3 p.m., passengers were taken off the plane and all luggage was removed so bomb-sniffing dogs could search for any traces of explosives, airport spokeswoman Terri-Ann Betancourt said.

Police confirmed there was no bomb on board hours later, after bomb-sniffing dogs searched the plane, Betancourt said.

Northwest Airlines estimated the losses in fuel and other expenses from the grounded flight at $70,000.
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....707270418/1001