Juvenile Arrested After Bomb Threat Shuts Down Kansas Airport

UPDATE - September 26, 2025: Hutchinson Police have arrested a juvenile suspect in connection with the bomb threat that closed Hutchinson Regional Airport on Friday morning.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A juvenile from Wichita has been taken into custody after making a bomb threat that temporarily shut down Hutchinson Regional Airport and disrupted air traffic across the region.

According to a media release from the Hutchinson Police Department, officers were dispatched to the airport at 1100 North Airport Road at 8:16 AM on September 26th after airport staff discovered a threatening voicemail. The message, left just before 11:00 PM on September 25th, claimed that a bomb had been attached to an airplane at the facility. The caller's voice was consistent with that of a juvenile male.

Airport officials immediately implemented security protocols, locking down the facility and restricting all incoming and outgoing flights. The Federal Aviation Administration closed the surrounding airspace until noon as a precautionary measure while authorities conducted their investigation.

Law enforcement officers performed a comprehensive search of all aircraft and airport facilities before declaring an all-clear at approximately 10:00 AM. No evidence was found to indicate the presence of any credible threat or explosive devices.

Through their investigation, Hutchinson Police were able to identify a potential suspect. Working in coordination with the Wichita Police Department, officers contacted the juvenile and his parents in Wichita. The suspect was subsequently taken into custody by Hutchinson Police and transported to the Reno County Youth Shelter.

The incident caused significant disruption to air traffic in the central Kansas region during the morning hours, though normal airport operations have since resumed.

Charges of aggravated criminal threat have been referred to the Reno County District Attorney's Office for prosecution. The suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The swift resolution of this case demonstrates the effective collaboration between multiple law enforcement agencies and highlights the serious consequences of making false threats against transportation infrastructure.

Information obtained from Hutch Post and Hutchinson Police Department media release