Stick of Dynamite Found in Checked Luggage

The Washington Times ^ | Aug 25, 7:01 PM EDT | KRISTEN HAYS

[kellynla]

HOUSTON (AP) -- A stick of dynamite was found in a college student's checked luggage on a Continental Airlines flight from Argentina, in one of six security incidents Friday that caused U.S. flights to be diverted, evacuated or searched.

Federal authorities were investigating why the student, who got off the Continental plane in Houston before it continued to Newark, N.J., had the explosive, FBI spokeswoman Shauna Dunlap said.

The student, Howard McFarland Fish, 21, was in federal custody and authorities determined his actions were not acts of terrorism, according to the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Fish told authorities he works in mining and often handles explosives, Houston Fire Department Assistant Chief Omero Longoria said. Longoria said federal officials were investigating whether the explanation was true.

In other incidents:

-An American Airlines flight from England to Chicago was forced to land in Bangor, Maine, in response to an unspecified threat, authorities said. Passengers deplaned and were led to a holding area, said airport manager Rebecca Hupp. The jetliner was on the tarmac with its engines shut off.

"Given the current threat level, the agency, in conjunction with other federal authorities, took prudent action to assure the safety of the passengers and crew," the federal Transportation Security Administration said in a statement.

-A US Airways jet was diverted to Oklahoma City after a federal air marshal subdued a disruptive passenger who had pushed a flight attendant, the FBI said.

-A Continental Airlines flight from Corpus Christi, Texas, to Bakersfield, Calif., was held in El Paso, one of its scheduled stops, after the crew discovered a missing panel in the lavatory, authorities said.

-A utility knife was found on a vacant passenger seat of a US Airways flight traveling from Philadelphia to Bradley International Airport in Connecticut, state police said.

[Fiddlstix]

Good heavens.....

[Inyo-Mono]

-A Continental Airlines flight from Corpus Christi, Texas, to Bakersfield, Calif., was held in El Paso, one of its scheduled stops, after the crew discovered a missing panel in the lavatory, authorities said.

There are actually flights between these two cities [sic]?

[bwteim]

Update for you, kellynla


Wed Oct 4, 8:58 PM ET
Student flying with dynamite "souvenir" indicted

HOUSTON (Reuters) - A U.S. tourist who told airport inspectors that dynamite in his bags was a souvenir from South America has been charged with breaking two security laws and could face up to 10 years in prison and steep fines.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061005/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_security_student

[kellynla]

Thank you for the ping & the link.


and they let this idiot out on $75K bond?
you'll never see him again...

[bwteim]

You're welcome. I expect his parents are pulling their hair out and spending retirement dollars on some plea bargaining.