Bomb threat suspect freed pending trial

SEATTLE – A Tennessee doctor accused of calling in a bomb threat because he missed his plane last week has been released from federal custody pending trial – provided he doesn’t fly home.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Monica Benton approved the release of Kou Wei Chiu, 31, on Monday, five days after prosecutors say he called 911 three times from a payphone at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Chiu was upset that he had arrived too late to board a Northwest Airlines flight to Memphis, and he told the operator there was a bomb on board, charging papers said. The plane turned around in mid-air and returned to Seattle for inspection.

Chiu, who has been charged with making a false threat against an aircraft, was released to the custody of his mother and sister on the conditions that he undergo a mental health evaluation, turn over his passport and agree to return to Tennessee by private or rented car.

Chiu told investigators that he had been off his antidepressant medication in the days before the July 25 incident and that he had never done anything like it before, charging papers said.

Northwest estimated that it lost $70,000 in fuel, gate fees and other expenses.