Passenger fined for bomb threat at Penang Airport
An angry outburst over a disputed excess baggage charge has landed an Indonesian air traveller with a RM5,000 fine in Malaysia.
Bob Halim Lim, 61 from Medan, Indonesia was enraged after being told he would have to pay for excess baggage and threatened to blow up a plane at Penang International Airport.
He was charged with criminally intimidating check-in staff at Penang Bayan Lepas Airport when attempting to fly home to Indonesia.
"The man became agitated after the counter staff told him that he was carrying excess baggage," said district police chief Supt Lai Fah Him.
"He then started screaming and threatened to bomb the plane and kill all on board. The counter staff immediately alerted management and was instructed not to allow the man to board the plane and notify the police."
Lim then bought a flight ticket on another airline before he was tracked down and detained by police.
He duly paid the fine after being convicted at a Penang magistrate’s court.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Have your say Cancel reply
Subscribe/Login to Travel Mole Newsletter
Travel Mole Newsletter is a subscriber only travel trade news publication. If you are receiving this message, simply enter your email address to sign in or register if you are not. In order to display the B2B travel content that meets your business needs, we need to know who are and what are your business needs. ITR is free to our subscribers.

































TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026