A Wednesday Alaska Airlines flight from Atlanta to Seattle was unexpectedly diverted to Spokane, Washington, after a passenger allegedly issued a bomb threat. 38-year-old Brandon Scott is now facing federal charges for allegedly conveying false information and creating a hoax, according to court documents cited by The Seattle Times.

Mid-flight, Scott reportedly passed a note to a flight attendant claiming he had a detonator and "several pounds" of homemade explosives in his carry-on luggage. The note demanded the flight be diverted to an alternate airport, threatening the lives of everyone onboard if the plane landed in Seattle as scheduled. It also instructed the flight attendant to inform the pilot and air traffic control while keeping the threat hidden from other passengers.

Scott’s note indicated he would surrender peacefully upon arrival at the new destination. After landing in Spokane, he was taken into custody. A subsequent search by a bomb squad found no explosives. Scott later told investigators he fabricated the threat, believing that members of a dangerous cartel were waiting in Seattle to kill him. The court documents did not elaborate on this claim.

Currently held in Spokane County Jail, Scott could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. It’s unclear if he has legal representation at this time.