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Man Accused Of Penning Note About Bomb On Plane Was 'Good Samaritan Hero'

DENVER (CBS4) - The FBI arrested Cameron E. Korth on Monday for allegedly writing a note about a bomb on board a United Airlines plane.

United flight 231 was en route from San Diego to Denver International Airport when Korth, 20, allegedly found the note in the bathroom.

The note stated there was a bomb on the plane and the flight crew should not attempt to land the aircraft.

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Cameron Korth (credit: Davis County, UT)

Korth shared the note with the flight crew who notified authorities at DIA, including the FBI.

When the plane landed it was parked on an isolated runway and passengers were evacuated onto waiting buses. The plane was investigated by the Denver Police Department explosive detection K-9 officers. No explosives were found. No one was injured.

Korth was asked to write an account of what happened and the FBI determined there were similarities between his handwriting and the note in question. united-airline-threat-5vomap

Eventually agents and officers determined that Korth wrote the note in his seat on paper he found jammed in the seat. He then took the note to one of the bathrooms and placed the note in the toilet seat cover dispenser and then pointed out the note to one of the flight attendants.

Korth later admitted to FBI agents he wrote the note himself. According to federal court documents, he said it was an "impulsive act" and that he "was trying to get help for his problems."

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(credit: CBS)

Korth told investigators he "had a number of medical issues"... and had a "significant criminal history" resulting from "dating and using drugs with a stripper."

Authorities found Korth's previous arrests include false reporting to police and fire and "emergency telephone abuse."

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(credit: American Red Cross)

Yet in 2012, Korth was named a Youth Good Samaritan Hero by the American Red Cross in Utah after he raised money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Korth was arrested on charges of maliciously conveying false information. That carries a penalty of not more than 10 years in federal prison and up to a $250,000 fine.

Cameron E. Korth
Cameron E. Korth (credit: Facebook)

He appeared before a federal judge Wednesday afternoon to be advised of the charges.

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