Cameron E. Korth, 20, is in federal custody after allegedly writing a fake bomb threat aboard United Flight 231, triggering a full-scale emergency response at Denver International Airport. The FBI took Korth into custody on January 17, 2017, charging him with Maliciously Conveying False Information — a crime punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
The flight, en route from San Diego, California to Denver, Colorado, was met by law enforcement the moment it landed. After Korth claimed he found a handwritten note in the aircraft’s bathroom stating there was a bomb onboard and that the crew should not attempt to land, flight personnel alerted authorities. The plane was immediately diverted to an isolated taxiway, passengers evacuated, and explosive detection canines from the Denver Police Department conducted a sweep. Nothing was found.
Investigators didn’t buy the story. When asked to write a detailed account of what happened, Korth’s handwriting matched the suspicious note. According to the affidavit, Korth admitted — through forensic inconsistencies and investigative follow-up — to crafting the note at his seat using scrap paper lodged in the seatback. He then walked it to the bathroom and placed it inside the toilet seat cover dispenser before alerting a flight attendant.
Federal agents and Denver PD pieced together his movements and intent. The stunt caused mass disruption, tied up critical emergency resources, and endangered public safety. Placing a false terroristic message on a commercial flight isn’t a prank — it’s a federal felony. Korth’s actions triggered protocols designed for real attacks, exposing the fragile nerve of air travel security.
Korth is scheduled to appear at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak, where he will be formally advised of the charges. Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kurt Bohn and Jason St. Julien, are handling the case. The FBI Denver Division and Denver Police Department led the investigation.
The charge of Maliciously Conveying False Information is not a conviction — Korth is presumed innocent until proven guilty. A Criminal Complaint is a probable cause document; a federal grand jury must indict for felony charges. But in the skies, even a whisper of terror becomes a five-alarm crisis. This case is a stark reminder: lie about a bomb, and the system treats it like a detonation.
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Key Facts
- State: Colorado
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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