A young British passenger who sent a bomb threat as a joke on Snapchat during a flight in July 2022 has been acquitted of all charges by the Spanish National Court, despite facing fines exceeding $125,000.

Aditya Verma, who was 18 at the time, was traveling aboard an EasyJet flight from London Gatwick Airport to Menorca, Spain, when he sent a message to a friend that read, “On my way to blow up the plane (I’m a member of the Taliban),” according to a BBC report.

The message, which was picked up via the airport's Wi-Fi network, alerted UK security services, prompting a serious response that led to an escort by Spanish F-18 fighter jets.

Spanish authorities took the threat seriously, and upon the aircraft's arrival in Menorca, a thorough search was conducted, ultimately finding no explosives.

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The presence of fighter jets and the security sweep caused alarm among passengers and crew, escalating what Verma later insisted was merely a joke into an international security incident.

Verma defended his actions in a court appearance on January 22, 2024, stating that the bomb threat was nothing more than an inside joke shared among friends.

“Since school, it’s been a joke because of my features,” he told the court, according to the BBC. “It was just to make people laugh.”

His lawyer echoed this sentiment, arguing that the message was never meant to be taken seriously or cause alarm. “Aditya didn’t put his message on Facebook or advertise it.

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What he did was the equivalent of making a joke inside a car with friends,” his defense counsel told prosecutors, as reported by The Telegraph.

“This boy was 18 years old and was beginning a holiday which was a reward for his school excellence. When he and his friends landed in Menorca, they realised they were in a nightmare.”

The Spanish authorities had originally sought substantial financial penalties in response to the incident. The fines included approximately $103,000 to cover the costs incurred by the Spanish Defence Ministry for scrambling the F-18 jets, in addition to around $24,400 in court fees.

Despite the severity of the response, the court ultimately ruled against pursuing terrorism charges or sentencing Verma to jail time.

The decision came as a relief to Verma and his family, but the incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of ill-considered jokes, particularly in a post-9/11 world where aviation security remains a top priority.

While Verma avoided punishment, the case highlights the serious legal and financial risks associated with making threats, even in jest, in an airport or onboard a flight.

Authorities worldwide continue to treat any mention of explosives with zero tolerance, making it clear that security protocols will not make exceptions for humor or perceived pranks.

This case serves as a cautionary tale, illustrating how a moment of reckless humor can escalate into an international incident, involving military intervention, legal proceedings, and a potential life-altering financial burden.

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