A Virginia woman is jailed in Charlotte and facing federal charges after allegedly telling Charlotte/Douglas International Airport screeners she was carrying a bomb Wednesday night.Federal officials say the incident forced the evacuation of passengers and staff from one part of the airport and delayed the departure of at least one flight.
Danielle Shanese Smith, 25, of Virginia Beach, has been charged by federal authorities with conveying false and misleading information. She also faces local charges of disorderly conduct.
The incident happened shortly before 7 p.m. Wednesday, when Smith and a male friend approached Checkpoint B, according to a federal suit filed Thursday. Air marshals say Smith was planning to board US Airways Flight 930 to Norfolk.
Police said the officer at the security checkpoint detected “three anomalies or images” on Smith’s body as she went through the body scanning machine. A second officer was called to examine Smith again, police said.
When the officer asked Smith if she had anything in her pockets, Morneault said, the woman responded, “I have a bomb.” Smith repeated that statement, adding an expletive, when she was asked the question a second time, federal officials say.
A supervising officer was called to the scene and asked Smith if she had anything in her pockets.
According to police, Smith responded “a bomb, cuz I am a (expletive) terrorist.”
Police said Smith had what was described as “an intense stare” and “a non-joking demeanor.”
At that point, airport police shut down the checkpoint and evacuated passengers and staff from the Checkpoint B area. Smith was arrested, and police did not find any type of explosive on her.
Police said Smith’s luggage was removed from the jet and kept in Charlotte. The flight left about 20 minutes late, authorities say.
The charges against Smith carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
