Prank Leads to Diverted Flight, Heavily Armed Police Removing Man from Plane

Someone called in a fake tip that got it all started

A man flying home to Texas to celebrate his 29th birthday instead spent Thursday as the unwitting victim of a midair explosives hoax that forced the plane's return to Philadelphia and him being escorted off at gunpoint, only to end up getting arrested in Texas on outstanding warrants.

The initial scare was determined to be a hoax after authorities searched the Dallas-bound US Airways jet and questioned the man, who did nothing wrong and was the victim of "a pretty nasty trick," Philadelphia police Chief Inspector Joseph Sullivan said. Police said they were acting on a tip they received that morning.