<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A medical science student's Instagram threat to blow up a plane because of a three-hour delay would have led to jail time if possible, a magistrate has said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Andre La Guardia, 22, made the fateful post at Sydney International Airport after finding out a flight with his family to the Philippines had been delayed for a few hours.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Imma bout to blow this s--- up," he wrote while waiting for the flight in a post showing the interior of an aeroplane containing passengers.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/cory-booker-gives-24-hour-speech-in-us-senate-denouncing-donald-trump/d40e4259-314f-41a1-a7d2-dc440a149b27" target="_blank"><strong><span>US senator crosses 24-hour mark in marathon protest speech</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Instagram quickly removed the post for breaching community standards and referred the matter to the Australian Federal Police.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The December 19 flight took off without incident with La Guardia allowed into the Philippines after speaking with police on arrival.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On his return to Sydney on January 17, La Guardia was interviewed by police and charged with threatening aviation security.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/delayed-student-andre-la-guardia-spared-jail-over-stupid-bomb-threat/84053b60-1c92-4c9a-a307-58aa2773f3c3" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Facing Downing Centre Local Court today, the 22-year-old pleaded guilty as his lawyer urged the court not to convict.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While it was no defence to the crime, La Guardia had not actually intended to follow through with the threat, solicitor Paul Meehan said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The 22-year-old had his whole life ahead of him, including a medical career and dreams of travelling.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-metro-footage-of-train-travelling-with-door-open/3b7b941c-7602-4f45-b47c-2b92c2e7aacc" target="_blank"><strong><span>Train door stays open on moving Sydney Metro packed full of commuters</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It was an expression of frustration by a naive, young man who has now certainly learnt his lesson," Meehan told the court.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But Magistrate Greg Grogin underscored that bomb threats were no joke.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He convicted the student and imposed a $10,000 fine while lamenting how parliament had made the offence fine-only.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"To suggest that something is going to be blown up, particularly an aircraft, is an absolutely unbelievably stupid and unacceptable thing to do," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If there was a jail term, Mr La Guardia, you would be receiving a term of imprisonment from me."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He noted that the student had accepted accountability for his actions through his co-operation with police, his early guilty plea and a letter of apology to the court.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/baggage-handler-preslie-ginoski-to-front-court-after-posing-shirtless-in-aircraft-turbine/3ffb99fe-1a01-485e-9778-5ba3f8b4ffa0" target="_blank"><strong><span>Baggage handler to front court after allegedly posing shirtless in aircraft turbine</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But a message needed to be sent to others not to make the same type of comments, Grogin said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The magistrate urged people to imagine the panic and fear the captain would have felt when told there was a threat to blow up their plane.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Luckily, it would appear the crew kept their heads," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>La Guardia was supported by his parents, sister and brother-in-law in court.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Talking to reporters outside, the young man apologised to those on the plane and said he regretted his actions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The maximum penalty for threatening aviation safety is a $16,500 fine.</span></div></div>