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U.S. Teen Arrested In Plane Hijack Plot

Cops: 16-Year-Old Boy Found With Handcuffs, Rope And Duct Tape Aboard Flight May Be Suicidal


The FBI has not determined if the boy was trying to crash the plane. He said authorities searched the teen's home in California and found a mock cockpit. (AP / CBS)



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(CBS/AP) Authorities believe a teen accused of plotting to hijack a plane was suicidal, and a judge was scheduled to decide Friday whether to keep him in custody.

The 16-year-old, who has not been identified by authorities, was removed from a Southwest Airlines flight Tuesday night at Nashville International Airport. He was being held at a juvenile detention facility.

FBI spokesman George Bolds told The Associated Press the teen had handcuffs, rope and duct tape in his bag, and was believed to be traveling alone.

"His plan had a low probability of success," Bolds said.

The teen was calm during the flight from Los Angeles and made no apparent attempt to commandeer the plane, Bolds said. He could not comment further on the teen's mental condition because he is a minor.

Authorities searched the boy's home in California and found a mock cockpit, he said.

The tip to police likely came from his parents; he supposedly used his mother's credit card to buy the airline ticket, reports CBS affiliate WTVF-TV in Nashville. Sources said he may have made similar threats to do something like this in the past.

Juvenile Court Administrator Tim Adgent said a hearing scheduled Friday afternoon would determine whether the teen should remain in custody or "if there other avenues for his release."

A message left with the juvenile public defender's office was not immediately returned.

The boy is currently facing only state charges. Nashville District Attorney General spokeswoman Susan Niland would not release the nature of the charges because the suspect is a minor.

His plan had a low probability of success.

FBI spokesman George Bolds
Federal prosecutors were still reviewing the case and had not filed any charges as of Friday morning, said David Boling, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Middle Tennessee.

The FBI dismissed broadcast reports Thursday night that the teen was planning to crash the plane into a "Hannah Montana" concert in Lafayette, La.




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