Man arrested after ‘joking’ that he had a grenade at American Airlines counter at MIA, deputies say

(Miami-Dade Corrections & Rehabilitation)

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A 52-year-old man was arrested Sunday after an American Airlines employee at Miami International Airport was apparently unamused by his joke at the ticket counter, authorities said.

According to an arrest report from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, Osniel Blanco-Lopez, of Miami, was at the ticket counter early Sunday morning when an American Airlines ticket agent asked him, “Do you have any dangerous goods?” as part of standard protocol.

Deputies said Blanco-Lopez said “no,” but then said, “I have a grenade” in Spanish before laughing.

Another ticket agent who was standing nearby told Blanco-Lopez “that is not a joke” before calling authorities, the report stated.

According to the report, an airport bomb detection K-9 responded to check on Blanco-Lopez’s luggage and no explosives were found.

Deputies said Blanco-Lopez was transported to the MDSO airport station and told law enforcement that he was “just joking around” when he made the statement.

He was subsequently arrested on a charge of making a false report about placing a bomb.

As of Monday afternoon, the Cuban national was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Online jail records listed his bond as “to be set.”

Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.

About The Author
Amanda Batchelor

Amanda Batchelor

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.