Authorities arrested a man who was carrying an explosive device in his carry-on luggage. The dangerous object was described as potent enough to damage a commercial aircraft. The incident occurred at the security checkpoint of Sacramento International Airport over the weekend.
The man, 49 years old and a Sacramento resident, attempted to pass through the security checkpoint. He was wearing a scarf covering his face and latex gloves to avoid identification. He also had a torch-type lighter, a knife, plastic zip ties, and other dangerous objects according to federal prosecutors.
Federal prosecutor Eric Grant reported details of the arrest in an official statement. The Sacramento resident also had five cell phones in his carry-on bag. One of the phones had a 15-minute timer programmed to start automatically. A second phone displayed a message on the screen with another phone number visible.
What Dangerous Objects Did the Man Have in His Luggage?
Evidence photos show a cardboard tube approximately the size of a toilet paper roll. The tube was equipped with a green fuse that completed it as an explosive device. Explosives technicians carefully examined the dangerous object found at the airport.
The powder and fuse were determined to be viable and energetic according to prosecutor Grant. He stated that the device could have detonated next to a window in a pressurized aircraft. If it had exploded at more than 10,000 feet (3 kilometers), it had the potential to severely damage the aircraft.
The explosion could have caused potential loss of cabin pressure in the aircraft. This would have posed an extreme risk to all passengers and crew members on the commercial flight. Before the device was removed, agents placed a suppression blanket over it.
Officers cordoned off the immediate area with security tape to protect the airport. The federal complaint against the man details all the dangerous objects found. The arrest was made on Saturday, and the man appeared before a federal court on Wednesday.
Why Was the Device So Dangerous for an Aircraft?
The prosecutor stated that the device had the potential to damage the aircraft if it detonated. If it had exploded next to a window in a pressurized aircraft, the risk was enormous. The aircraft would have been flying above the normal altitude of 10,000 feet (3 kilometers).
Loss of cabin pressure could have caused a massive tragedy with casualties. All passengers and crew members would have faced a deadly risk from the internal explosion. The device was powerful enough to damage the structure of the aircraft.
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Authorities took immediate measures to neutralize the danger at Sacramento Airport. Agents placed a special explosion suppression blanket over the device. This blanket helps contain the explosion and reduce potential damage to the airport.
The immediate area was cordoned off with security tape to prevent dangerous approaches. Explosives technicians examined the device to determine its actual level of danger. Experts confirmed that the powder and fuse were indeed viable and energetic.
