SEATAC, Wash. — A Southwest Airlines flight was delayed, the plane was searched and passengers deplaned after a bomb threat was made.
According to Sea-Tac Airport spokesman Perry Cooper, the man allegedly called in the threat to interrupt the flight being taken by his ex-girlfriend.
Flight 149 to Las Vegas was scheduled to depart at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Police arrested 26 year-old Zachary Milliren of Lake City. He was booked into the King County Jail for threats to bomb and felony harassment. Sources tell KIRO 7 Milliren admitted to authorities he made the call.
The threat brought Port of Seattle police cars to the side of the Boeing 737.
A viewer on flight 149 to Las Vegas alerted KIRO 7 to the issue and tweeted a photo.
Out of an abundance of caution, Port of Seattle police, TSA and the airline decided to have the passengers leave the plane at 5:49 a.m. shortly after they had boarded.
All passengers were loaded onto a bus, returned to the terminal and re-screened at a security checkpoint.
The aircraft and its contents were thoroughly searched by police and explosive detection K-9 teams and found nothing suspicious. The passengers were then allowed to get back on the aircraft and the delayed flight took off at 7:44 a.m.
After the plane was re-boarded, Port of Seattle investigators were able to identify the 26-year-old suspect and arrest him at his Lake City home.
Milliren’s mother hadn’t heard about the arrest until KIRO 7 contacted her Wednesday night.
“I was stunned I had not heard anything about this and it just doesn’t sound like that,” said Jeanne Milliren-Murray, the suspect’s mom. "Certainly hoping it’s not true. It’s not consistent with him.”
Milliren-Murray said her son has been staying out of trouble. “He's a father, with a young daughter.”
A background check revealed Milliren has had a series of traffic infractions. Milliren’s bail will be set at hearing Thursday.
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