A 49-year-old man from Sacramento, Kimani Osayande Jones, has been charged with unlawfully possessing explosive material in an airport after attempting to pass through security at Sacramento International Airport on May 30. Jones was preparing to board American Airlines Flight 2464 to Charlotte, North Carolina, when authorities discovered an explosive device in his carry-on luggage.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California, Jones was wearing a scarf covering his face and blue latex gloves at the time. A search of his backpack revealed an M-type explosive device, a torch lighter, a knife, scissors, an aerosol can, and zip ties. The device was described as a brown cylindrical object measuring approximately 2.5 inches long with a green fuse.
Jones initially claimed he was unaware of the items in his bag and offered to discard them, but later denied ownership of the backpack. He was arrested, and bomb technicians from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office and the FBI secured the area to safely remove the device. The device was found to contain about 9.29 grams of powder, which is believed to be either pyrotechnic powder or flash powder, pending laboratory testing.
Federal prosecutors noted that the device could potentially cause serious injury, especially if detonated on a pressurized aircraft. Jones' checked luggage had already been screened and loaded onto the flight before his arrest, but no suspicious items were found during a subsequent search in North Carolina.
Investigators also revealed that Jones had made multiple contacts with the FBI prior to his arrest, claiming he was being threatened. He invoked his right to remain silent after his arrest and has not been interviewed by investigators. If convicted, Jones faces up to five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to two years of supervised release.
