A student is to be sentenced after claiming their was a bomb on a flight leaving Gatwick Airport.
Muhammet Demir, 20, of no fixed abode, called police shortly before 4.30pm last Tuesday (September 9) claiming he had seen a bomb on an Easyjet plane that was due to fly from Gatwick to Turkey.
The only Easyjet flight to Turkey that day was met by armed police after being called to a halt as it taxied along the runway.
Officers, working with Gatwick and airline staff, were able to establish the call was a hoax and the phone message was traced to Demir, who had been due to be on the flight.
The flight was delayed for three hours.
Police forces around the country were notified about Demir and he was arrested as he tried to board a flight at Luton Airport.
The Turkish national refused to say why he made the call.
At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Saturday (September 13) Demir pleaded guilty to communicating a false message to cause a bomb hoax.
He was remanded in custody to appear before a crown court for sentencing on a date to be set.
Detective Inspector Andy Richardson said: “Fortunately we were able to quickly identify that this was a hoax call but it still caused considerable worry for airport and airline staff and passengers.
“Anyone considering making malicious calls of this nature should think long and hard about the consequences.
“We investigate fully all claims and threats like this and will not rest until we find those responsible.
“Making hoax calls not only wastes the time and money of members of the public and the emergency services but also delays us from responding to genuine emergencies.
“Demir now knows that if you make a malicious call to say a bomb is on a plane then we will find you. We will arrest you, put you before the courts and you will go to prison.”