LOS ANGELES -- A Southwest Airlines passenger alleged to have triggered a bomb scare at Los Angeles International Airport, delaying more than 20 flights and prompting the evacuation of about 1,850 people from a terminal, is due in federal court on Tuesday.

Donovan Wenger, 37, who is locked up at the Metropolitan Detention in downtown Los Angeles, is scheduled to make his initial appearance before a federal judge at 2 p.m., said FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller.

"Hoaxes are prosecuted," she said. "(They're) taken very seriously."

Authorities have not disclosed what was said.

Wenger was aboard SWA Flight 1182 from El Paso when he allegedly made the comment at about 2 p.m. Sunday Nancy Castles of the Los Angeles World Airports said the evacuation delayed 20 Southwest Airlines and two USAirways flights. Travelers were allowed back into the terminal at about 4 p.m.

Los Angeles police searched Wenger, his carry-on items and his checked luggage, but no contraband was found, Castles said.