SANTIAGO, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chilean authorities arrested the suspected prank caller who disrupted nine commercial flights on Thursday by alleging they were planted with bombs, Chile's Investigation Police (PDI) said on Friday.
Police spokesman Maj. Diego Rojas, said the perpetrator was apprehended early Friday morning in Antofagasta, 1,300 kilometers north of the capital, and brought to Santiago to be charged.
The 29-year-old suspect reportedly made the calls because he was annoyed at having missed a flight and lost his luggage, police said.
"Some of the calls were made from Antofagasta. Our technical teams used georeferencing to determine their locations, which led to the arrest of an individual, 29, with no prior record," said Rojas.
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Friday called on the courts to show no leniency toward the perpetrator.
"I have asked the Interior and Public Security Ministry to make an example of those responsible by charging them with (violating) the National Security Law," he said.
The hoax calls to Chile's Civil Aviation Administration (DGAC) caused several flights to make emergency landings. Inspections turned up nothing.
