A woman has been taken into custody after allegedly making a false report that her ex-boyfriend intended to carry a bomb onto an airplane.
Brooke Ayers, 47, is accused of calling American Airlines on the morning of Wednesday, April 8, to claim her former partner planned to bring an explosive device on a flight departing New Mexico that day.
According to KOB4, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration contacted the Roswell Police Department at around 8:45 am to relay details of the call attributed to Ayers.
Authorities then worked alongside the New Mexico State Police to secure the area so the NMSP bomb team and an explosives K9 could be dispatched from Albuquerque to the airport.
Meanwhile, the man at the center of the allegation—a 34-year-old Indiana native and Ayers’ recent ex—reportedly had no knowledge of the claim and arrived at Roswell Air Center as normal, at which point officers moved in.
Per Live Now Fox, he was detained at the airport, questioned, and searched—but investigators allegedly found nothing to support the bomb threat.
Reports say a bomb squad was also brought in, his rental car was isolated and inspected for explosives, and traffic was diverted to protect the public while the situation was assessed.
Investigators later turned their attention to Ayers’ home, where they say the context behind the report became clearer.
According to The Post, when officers arrived at her residence, Ayers allegedly became aggressive—reportedly threatening an officer with a knife and, after being restrained, digging her nails into another officer’s arm.
Police also determined that Ayers and her ex had argued only hours earlier, and that the dispute ended their relationship.
Based on those findings, investigators concluded the bomb allegation was not credible and was allegedly made to retaliate against him.
“The investigation found Ayers made the false claim following an argument she had with the 34-year-old man the previous night, resulting in the end of their relationship,” Roswell Police said in a statement, per The Post.
“Ayers threatened to get a knife and use it against an officer, so she was placed in handcuffs to transport her to the police department for questioning,” they said.
“While being handcuffed, Ayers resisted and dug her nails into the arm of one of the officers.”
Ayers was arrested and is facing allegations including making a bomb scare, aggravated assault on a peace officer, battery upon a peace officer, and resisting, evading or obstructing an officer.