AN ACR LTT HAD TO SEARCH A PAX'S BAG WHEN THE FLT ATTENDANT THOUGHT THAT HE SAID 'BOMB' WHEN HE MEANT 'BAG.' THE PAX HAD A HVY SPANISH ACCENT.

Narrative

WHILE BOARDING PAX FOR A REGULAR SCHEDULED FLT; IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTN BY THE FLT ATTENDANT THAT A PAX; AFTER BEING ASKED TO LEAVE HIS CARRY ON BAG AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS TO BE PLACED IN THE REAR CARGO SECTION; REPLIED; 'I HAVE A BOMB IN MY BAG.' THE PAX WAS THEN DEPLANED AND ESCORTED BY THE RAMPER BACK INSIDE WHERE IT WAS ESTABLISHED THAT THE PAX (WHO WAS HISPANIC WITH A VERY HVY ACCENT) HAD ACTUALLY SAID 'I HAVE A BAG IN MY BAG.' APPARENTLY HE HAD A COMPUTER IN A BAG IN THE CARRY ON BAG AND DIDN'T WANT IT DAMAGED IN THE BACK. THE BAG WAS THOROUGHLY SEARCHED AND PLACED IN THE CARGO SECTION AND THE PAX REBOARDED. IT WAS IN MY JUDGEMENT A LANGUAGE PROB AND NOT A THREAT OF ANY KIND. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 341513: AFTER THE ACFT WAS CLOSED AND THINKING THE PAX WAS REMOVED; THE FLT ATTENDANT SAID SHE WAS STILL UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE MAN IN THE PLANE. LATER; WE FOUND OUT FROM THE FLT ATTENDANT THAT THE MAN DID SAY BOMB; DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE MAN HAD SAID BEFORE. BEING NEW; I DID NOT FULLY KNOW THE CORRECT PROC AND HAVING A CAPT WHO NEVER WOULD MAKE A DECISION. THE CORRECT PROC FOR THIS EVENT NEVER TOOK PLACE.