The British teenager, who was arrested on suspicion of making a false bomb threat on a packed easyJet plane, has been banned from leaving Spain after his first court appearance.
The 18-year-old was dragged by two armed police officers before a judge in the Menorcan capital of Mahon on Tuesday morning so that he could be handed over to a judge for questioning.
A woman, identified as his mother, waited at the entrance to greet him after reportedly flying to Sunshine Island following his arrest on Sunday.
The unnamed teenager is believed to be wearing the same blue shorts and green T-shirt he was arrested in when flight EZY8303 landed in Menorca after being escorted by a Spanish military jet.
He was released on bail of €10,000 (£8,600) – but told to stay in Spain and report to court every two weeks as part of the conditions attached.
A legal source said: “The Coroner in charge of Mahon Court of Instruction Number Two has released on bail of €10,000 the young man who was arrested over a false bomb alarm on the plane that landed in Menorca on Sunday.
“The judge confiscated his passport, banned him from leaving Spain and told him to report regularly to the court.”
The judge who made the decision is named Belen Velazquez.
The unnamed teenager is understood to have been given five days to locate the money he must deposit with the court.
According to an unconfirmed local report, the island’s judge had referred the case to the Madrid-based Audiencia Nacional court in Madrid because of a national security issue.
Reports after his arrest said the teenager could face a bill in the thousands covering the crash of the Spanish Air Force’s F18 fighter jet and the police operation mobilizing special officers and sniffer dogs to check the plane.
The youngster was part of a group of friends who had traveled to the Mediterranean resort island for a celebration.
The alarm was raised as the easyJet plane was about to land just before 5pm on Sunday.
Video footage showed it being escorted by the Spanish fighter jet before reaching its destination.
A local Menorcan newspaper claimed that Scotland Yard and French police spotted the alleged bomb threat on an unidentified social network and alerted Spanish police.
A spokesman for the Guardia Civil confirmed on Monday: “The Guardia Civil has arrested an 18-year-old British national as an alleged perpetrator of a crime against public order in Mahon, Menorca.
“On Sunday, Menorca Airport’s control tower was alerted to a bomb threat on a plane en route from London to the island’s capital, Mahon, which was still in the air and approaching the airport.
“The threat is said to have been sent via a social media platform. After landing, the plane was moved to an area away from the main terminal and other planes.
“The Civil Guard organized a special operation which consisted of mobilizing bomb disposal experts as well as sniffer dogs and other officers who created a safe perimeter around the aircraft.
“Passengers were disembarked and established protocol followed until police were able to confirm that the bomb threat was false and the person responsible was identified along with five other attendants as witnesses on social media.
“They were taken to a police station so officers could clarify the situation.”
Police sources confirmed ahead of the teenager’s court appearance that if he were convicted of a crime, he would likely have to collect the police bill.
The passengers were reportedly held on the tarmac for four hours while the plane was checked out.
The easyJet plane is said to have landed about half an hour late at 4.45pm local time on Sunday.
The incident reportedly resulted in a Ryanair plane departing for London two and a half hours late.
Tuesday’s court hearing took place behind closed doors, as is customary in Spain, where only court hearings are open to the public.
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