Monroe Man Arrested After Allegedly Calling in Hoax Bomb Threat Over Missed Flight at Detroit Metro Airport
DETROIT, MI — A Monroe, Michigan man has been arrested and charged in a disturbing incident that temporarily paralyzed operations at Detroit Metropolitan Airport and disrupted the travel plans of dozens of passengers. Federal authorities allege that John Charles Robinson, 23, placed a hoax bomb threat call after missing his scheduled flight with Spirit Airlines on Thursday, June 5, 2025.
According to a criminal complaint unsealed in federal court, Robinson allegedly called Spirit Airlines around 6:25 a.m. on Thursday after being denied boarding on Flight 2145, bound for Los Angeles, due to his late arrival at the gate. In the recorded call, Robinson is accused of claiming he had urgent information about a bomb threat, saying things like:
“I was calling about 2145… because I have information about that flight… there’s gonna be someone who’s gonna try to blow up the airport… they’re going to be carrying a bomb through the TSA… it’s not going to be able to be detected.”
His alarming statements prompted an immediate response from federal and local authorities. Spirit Airlines cancelled the flight, evacuated the aircraft, and coordinated with the FBI, the Wayne County Airport Authority Police, and the U.S. Federal Air Marshal Service. Bomb-sniffing dogs were brought in to sweep the aircraft and surrounding areas. Ultimately, no explosives were found, and the threat was determined to be false.
Investigators soon uncovered that Robinson had been booked on the very same flight and missed it due to tardiness. The affidavit states that after being told to rebook, he allegedly made the bomb threat call in an apparent act of retaliation. FBI agents were able to trace the call to Robinson’s cellphone and arrested him later the same day—as he attempted to board another flight to Los Angeles.
The arrest was announced by United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr., and FBI Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the Detroit Field Office. Gorgon condemned the threat, emphasizing the gravity of falsely reporting explosives at a major transportation hub:
“No American wants to hear the words ‘bomb’ and ‘airplane’ in the same sentence. Making this kind of threat undermines our collective sense of security and wastes valuable law enforcement resources.”
FBI Special Agent Gibson added:
“Anyone who threatens to bomb an aircraft and endanger public safety will be swiftly investigated and brought to justice… This was a coordinated effort by our FBI Detroit Joint Terrorism Task Force, and we remain committed to protecting the public and confronting those who seek to spread fear in our communities.”
Robinson made his initial court appearance in Detroit federal court later that afternoon, where he was released on bond. He is scheduled to return to court for a preliminary examination on June 27, 2025. If convicted, he could face significant prison time under federal law prohibiting false threats involving explosives.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hank Moon and Douglas Salzenstein, and remains under investigation by the FBI.
Authorities are reminding the public that threats of this nature are taken seriously, and hoaxes—regardless of intent—carry severe consequences under both state and federal law.
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