Man Charged With Threatening Miami Flight Via Email
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Authorities have filed a criminal complaint against a 22-year-old Brazilian man who threatened officials with an email that a flight from Miami to Brasilia "will go down."
"Flight must not take off. Targeted. It will go down. Retaliation. Cargo is dangerous. Be advised," were the words written allegedly by Francisco Fernando Cruz in an email about a specific TAM Airline flight.
On January 8th the email was sent to the Miami Dade Police Department as well as TAM Airlines. The specific flight was scheduled to depart MIA Friday.
Cruz was caught when MDPD was able to trace the origin of the email and determined that it had come from a computer at Montclair State University in Montclair, NJ. The university was able to provide video of the person that used the specific kiosk that sent the email.
The next day, officials said, the email was resent and officials were able to identify Cruz as the alleged sender of the emails.
Cruz traveled from New York to Miami and was scheduled on the TAM flight that he threatened.
The Associated Press reports that Cruz was arrested after landing in Miami. He reportedly told investigators that he had sent the email as part of a dare game.
If Cruz is convicted, he will face a statutory maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Cruz's case is set for pretrial detention hearing on January 14 and arraignment is scheduled for January 24.