A planned flight to Camagüey turned into a legal nightmare for a man at Miami International Airport on Monday. Yoel Guevara-Crespo, about to board an American Airlines flight, found himself arrested after telling a gate agent he had a bomb in his luggage.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office identified the suspect as 33-year-old Yoel Guevara-Crespo from Lake Charles, Louisiana. When asked the routine security question about carrying lithium batteries or incendiary devices, Guevara-Crespo reportedly replied, "No, but I have a bomb," a comment that swiftly grounded his travel plans and led to his arrest.
The gate agent quickly informed him that he would not be allowed on Flight AA1319 and contacted her supervisor. Despite Guevara-Crespo's claim that it was merely a joke, the authorities did not take it lightly and activated the full security protocol.
Security personnel responded promptly, taking Guevara-Crespo into custody without any issues. A K-9 unit inspected his luggage and found nothing suspicious. Guevara-Crespo was then taken to the airport's station for a full confession before being booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with a $2,500 bond.
Pattern of False Threats at Miami Airport
This incident was not an isolated one. Just a day prior, another Cuban, 52-year-old Osniel Blanco-López from Miami, was arrested at the American Airlines ticket counter after jokingly telling an employee in Spanish, "I have a grenade," followed by laughter.
The employee sternly reminded him, "This is not a joke," and alerted the authorities. Although the K-9 check again yielded no explosives, Blanco-López faced the same charge: making a false bomb threat.
Blanco-López had been released from jail by Tuesday, whereas Guevara-Crespo remained in detention, according to Telemundo 51.
Rising Incidents of False Bomb Threats
These cases are part of a troubling trend of fake bomb threats in Miami-Dade throughout 2026. In January, Eulalio Felipe Orama, a 49-year-old from Houston, was arrested at MIA for uttering "bomb" during boarding. Since mid-March, a wave of false threats has disrupted shopping malls, hospitals, zoos, and airports in the area, resulting in about 148 flights canceled and 185 delayed.
Another similar incident occurred in August when a Hialeah man was detained for a comparable threat. The Blanco-López case followed shortly thereafter.
Under Florida Statute 790.163, issuing a bomb threat, even as a joke, is a serious second-degree felony. This offense can lead to penalties of up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000, regardless of the absence of any actual explosive devices.
Understanding the Legal Consequences of Bomb Threats in Florida
What are the penalties for making a false bomb threat in Florida?
Under Florida law, making a false bomb threat is a second-degree felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000.
Why are bomb threats taken so seriously at airports?
Bomb threats are considered serious due to the potential risk to passenger safety and the significant disruption they cause to airport operations.