Turkish Suspect Arrested

A Freebird Airlines A320 was forced to return to Munich shortly after take-off Tuesday night when a Turkish man waiving a cell phone said he had a bomb and threatened to destroy the aircraft.

"He threatened to set off an explosion if the aircraft did not turn back immediately," said police spokesman Josef Bichlmeier.

When the aircraft came to a stop back at Munich, police say the suspect jumped out of the cabin door nearest to the cockpit, breaking his leg in the fall.

"Whether he jumped out in an attempt to flee or fell by accident is unclear," said Bichlmeier.

A thorough search of the aircraft failed to turn up any explosives.

The flight was on its way to Istanbul when it was forced to turn around. None of the 153 passengers and crew was hurt during the bizarre incident. But they were forced to stay on board the aircraft for more than an hour after it landed because German authorities wanted to be sure the 28-year old man had no accomplices.

Prosecutors in Munich say they'll charged the unnamed suspect with assault. If convicted, he could get up to 15 years in prison.

FMI: www.freebirdairlines.com