A footballer has been arrested by police after allegedly making a bomb threat on a plane carrying his team to a match, leading to the aircraft being evacuated by explosives officers
A footballer has been recorded being escorted off a plane in handcuffs by police after allegedly making a bomb threat before his team’s flight to reach a match.
Argentine second division club Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy announced last night it was contemplating dismissing Emiliano Endrizzi (Jesús David Emiliano Endrizzi) following the peculiar incident, which forced the team and other passengers to evacuate the aircraft so bomb disposal experts could board to search it.
The 32-year-old defender allegedly yelled ‘Bomb’ as the plane was preparing to depart the north-west Argentinian city of San Salvador de Jujuy on Saturday afternoon for the capital Buenos Aires where they face home team Agropecuario later today.
A passenger reportedly stated afterwards following his arrest: “He said they were all going to explode.”
Airline Flybondi said in the wake of the incident: “A passenger on board flight FO5181, due to take off from Gobernador Horacio Guzman International Airport at 1.25pm, made a bomb threat.
“Given the situation, established security protocols were immediately activated, with the procedure being handled by the Airport Security Police (PSA).”
Revealing it was the second incident of its kind in 48 hours, it added: “As a result of this passenger’s irresponsibility, the day’s air operations were affected, with delays and cancellations impacting more than 1,200 passengers. Flybondi is considering legal action against those responsible.”
Endrizzi’s future with the club, currently sitting second in Argentina’s second-tier Primera B Nacional league, was today left uncertain. The club initially stated: “Currently, the situation is under the jurisdiction of the federal justice system, in order to clarify what happened.
“The club expressly states that, if confirmed, it would be a manifestation of a strictly individual nature, unrelated to the values and conduct promoted by the institution.
“We express our full willingness to cooperate with the authorities for the prompt clarification of the facts, and await the decisions that may be adopted in order to assess, where appropriate, any internal measures that may be applicable.”
Club president Walter Morales later conceded in a radio interview that Endrizzi’s contract could potentially be terminated, stating: “It’s something we’re evaluating but I can’t confirm anything at the moment. The player is detained and the flight was rescheduled.”
When questioned if the footballer could have been making a foolish joke, he added: “The context the world is experiencing today does not allow for this type of jokes.
“We are trying to preserve the name of Gimnasia because it has nothing to do with all of this. He is a player who was in working hours and representing a very important institution.”
Endrizzi operates as a left-back for his present club, whom he joined in 2002 from Independiente Rivadavia. He has appeared in over 300 matches as a professional footballer and netted seven goals.