Man makes bomb threat to New Orleans airport due to parking payment issue, affidavit claims

A Louisiana resident, aged 35, has been charged after allegedly making a bomb threat at New Orleans Airport when he was unable to pay for parking. The arrest took place last month at the airport.

According to reports, the man told an airport operator over the phone, "We have the bomb," during a threatening call. Prosecutors stated that he could face up to ten years in prison for the incident. He was formally indicted on November 20 on a single count of willfully making a threat.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana released details of the case. The FBI's violent crime task force became involved after the local sheriff's office reported that the airport had received a threatening call on November 7, according to an affidavit.

The affidavit noted that the man, from Alexandria, Louisiana, requested the operator "page Hassan" and added, "If you do not page him, we have the bomb." Within an hour, a second call came from the same number, during which the suspect reportedly tried to disguise his voice. In this call, he allegedly threatened to harm the operator and said, "I want him to bring the bomb to level three."

Sheriff's deputies traced the phone number and found it near the airport's north terminal. The suspect was identified based on his prior interactions earlier that evening. Two hours before the first call, he had attempted to leave the short-term parking garage but could not pay the fee. Despite repeated requests from parking staff and airport police, he initially refused to move his car. Eventually, he was allowed to park in a surface lot until he could pay.

The deputies later found him still in the surface lot and arrested him. When they called the number used for the threats, his phone rang, confirming the connection. He was released on a $5,000 unsecured bond ahead of a preliminary hearing, with conditions including participation in mental health treatment and permission to retrieve his car from the parking lot.

If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Author: Zoe Harrison