Man charged in airplane-bomb hoax on girlfriend's ex

FEDERAL PROSECUTORS on Monday formally charged Kenneth W. Smith Jr. of Port Richmond for allegedly phoning in a hoax to Philadelphia International Airport police saying that his lover's ex-boyfriend had carried a liquid explosive onto a plane.

An arrest affidavit said police received a call Sept. 6 from a "George Michaels" saying that a white male passenger identified as "Person No. 1" was going to try to get through airport security.

The US Airways flight to Dallas-Fort Worth was returned to Philadelphia after the phone call. The passenger was searched, and no explosives were found.

The passenger told cops that an ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend, "Kenny," were responsible for the call.

Authorities later interviewed Smith, 26, and court papers said he admitted he was the person who called airport police posing as Michaels.

Smith was arrested Sept. 7 and released by a federal judge on personal-recognizance bond.

- Michael Hinkelman