Revenge for fish guts prank motive in hijacking hoax

HONOLULU — A Hawaii man is pleading guilty to making a hoax call to the FBI when he falsely reported a possible hijacker was aboard an Alaska Airlines flight to get revenge on a man he said put fish guts in his truck.

Prosecutors said Timothy David Hershman of Kona admitted calling the FBI on Jan. 17 and saying another man was going to hijack a plane headed to Alaska.

Authorities determined the other man was aboard an Alaska Airlines flight from Kona to Seattle. Two Oregon National Guard fighter jets escorted the flight.

Authorities decided the call was a hoax after questioning the other man for nearly two hours.

Prosecutors said Thursday Hershman confessed to making the call because the man had allegedly placed fish guts in his truck.

Hershman faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 7.

KIRO