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Scott McGann: Suspect in Custody After La Guardia Bomb Scare

by Amy Judd | August 1, 2009 at 10:24 am

1126 views | 22 Recommendations | 2 comments

Scott McGann is the man who is now in custody after causing the La Guardia bomb scare this morning and the airport has been reopened although flight delays are occurring.

McGann, 32, entered the Central Terminal of the airport this morning with a United Airlines ticket to Chicago and tickets on connecting flights to Oakland, California.

The trouble began shortly after 5 a.m., when McGann checked in for a flight and immediately began attracting attention because of bizarre behavior.

Police were called about a suspicious and possibly intoxicated person at the security checkpoint, and they detained McGann. When they searched his bag they found what looked to be a makeshift bomb and the terminal was evacuated. The device was determined not to be dangerous.

Flights were disrupted across the country however.

Roughly a half-dozen United flights were delayed because of the incident, airline spokesman Rahsaan Johnson said. Of the arrest, he said, "We are cooperating with authorities."

American Airlines canceled eight flights. Delta Air Lines Inc. has a separate terminal from where the incident occurred, so planes continued to arrive and depart, but flights were still disrupted because traffic prevented flight crews from getting to the airport, airline spokesman Carlos Santos said.

Discount carrier AirTran Airways canceled two flights and delayed about a dozen others, spokesman Christopher White said.

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dave D. (not verified)

at 09:19 on August 2nd, 2009

This is a great lesson for those parents out there that treat their children with less than unconditional love. I grew up with Scott, and saw the brutal mental and physical abuse brought on by his step dad, and his mom. His step dad use to beat him for no reason, even when friends were present, and his mom was more concerned with being drunk than she was with raising such an intelligent son. He was one of the most intelligent people I had the privilage of knowing in my youth. I know in my heart this was a cry for help, not an attempt to hurt others. Scott would never hurt anyone, but himself. I know we all make our own choices, but when you have been faced with such mental anguish for so long, one can't help but wonder how much was he truly thinking of the consequenses, rather than screaming out "somebody please just love me!"

Jill J (not verified)

at 10:06 on August 2nd, 2009

someone needs to do an intervention on the entire town of Willits. If you have ever lived in Willits then you are either on drugs or know someone who is. Wake up world there are pockets of communities where drugs will destroy everyone and eventually seep out into the nation far and wide.