Fake Bomb Threat On O'Hare Flight Made By North Side Man: Cops

CHICAGO, IL — A North Side man is accused of making a false bomb threat Friday night aboard a flight out of O'Hare International Airport, forcing the flight to return to the gate, according to Chicago police. Michael Bielinski, 28, of the 5300 block of North Lowell Avenue in the North Park neighborhood, was charged with felony disorderly conduct in the incident and ordered held on $5,000 bail.

Bielinski was aboard American Airlines flight 1316 at around 5:20 p.m. Friday, March 9, when he allegedly "made statements that could endanger the aircraft and its passengers" as the plane was about to take off, police said. During a hearing Sunday, prosecutors claimed Bielinski allegedly told a passenger next to him that they would all die because the plane was going to explode, the Chicago Tribune reports.

According to the passenger, Bielinski took out an electronic cigarette device to replace the batteries in it and then he grabbed the passenger's carry-on bag, the report stated. That's when Bielinski allegedly held up the bag and declared it was "a good time to cut out the bomb material," the report added.

The plane returned to the gate following the incident, and Bielinski, who the passenger claimed smelled of gasoline, was taken off the flight, the report stated. Bielinski's next court date is Friday, March 16.

More via the Chicago Tribune

Michael Bielinski, 28 (Photo via Chicago Police Department)