German Jailed in ‘Bomb’ Case Goes Home
The German tourist whose urgent need to use the bathroom was mistaken for a bomb threat finally went home after spending 10 months in jail.
Johann Grzeganek, 24, pleaded guilty last week to four charges involving interference with a flight crew and was sentenced to time served. Prosecutors dropped a charge involving concealing a bomb.
At a hearing last Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Norman Roettger criticized federal prosecutors’ handling of the case, saying it was a “disgrace he’s been in jail this long.”
Anna Jones, one of his attorneys, said Grzeganek left Florida on Saturday evening and returned to his home in Garbsen, Germany. He had remained in jail 10 months because he couldn’t make the $100,000 bond.
In January, Grzeganek was arrested aboard a flight to Germany. Grzeganek, who’s afraid of flying, said the problem started when he got up to use the restroom because his bladder was “going to explode.”
When a German-speaking flight attendant instructed him to sit down, he said: “No, no, no, the roof would go.” The attendant said she thought Grzeganek was referring to a bomb.
After the incident, the pilot dumped his fuel at sea and returned to the Hollywood-Ft. Lauderdale International Airport, where Grzeganek was arrested.
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