Man jailed for flight bomb hoaxes

GUANGZHOU - A 27-year-old man who made false bomb threats that affected flights in six Chinese cities in May was sentenced to five years in jail by a court in the southern city of Shenzhen on Tuesday.

Wang Hongliang was jailed for fabricating terror information, according to a ruling by the People's Court of Bao'an District, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province.

According the court, Wang made six bomb threat calls on May 15, causing plane diversions, emergency landings or delays to 27 flights in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Lanzhou, Xi'an, Nanjing and Urumqi.

He was detained on May 16 in a hostel in Changping Township in the city of Dongguan, also in Guangdong.

The court said the bomb threats had affected flights, triggered emergency responses at airports and had severely disturbed social order.

Wang's deeds also caused economic losses to airlines. Shenzhen Airlines and Shanghai Juneyao Airlines reported that their direct economic losses caused by the hoaxes totaled about 397,071 yuan (65,082 U.S. dollars).

Under Chinese laws, those who intentionally disrupt flights by fabricating threats may receive punishments ranging from detention to a jail term of up to five years, or more than five years for those whose actions have severe consequences.

Wang said in court that he would not appeal the verdict.

Wang was sentenced to three years in jail on June 26, 2006 for extortion, according to the court.