Venezuelan Aeropostal flight evacuated after fake bomb threat

Feb. 1 (UPI) -- An Aeropostal flight in Venezuela's Margarita Island was evacuated and the Santiago Mariño Caribbean International Airport was shut down after a man on the plane allegedly made a fake bomb threat.

Flight 206 aboard a McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft was set to travel Tuesday afternoon from the airport near the city of Porlamar to the city of Valencia.

Officials evacuated and searched the plane but found no evidence of a bomb.

"False alarm of a bomb in Aeropostal aircraft. Equipment: MD-80. Flight: 206 Porlamar-Valencia," the AeroMeteo agency, based in Caracas, said in a statement.

The man was arrested and is expected to be charged with unlawful interference. The plane was cleared and the flight landed in Valencia at 8:14 p.m.

"Aeropostal reports that its VH206 Porlamar-Valencia flight is embarking on Porlamar airport after complying with safety protocols," Aeropostal said in a statement late Tuesday. "Following aeronautical safety protocols, our VH206 flight had to be evacuated and reviewed by the competent authorities to ensure the well-being of our passengers and crew."