A terrifying plot at Sacramento International Airport was foiled when federal authorities arrested a man carrying an explosive device capable of damaging an aircraft, prosecutors announced.
Arrest at Security Checkpoint
Kimani Osayande Jones, a 49-year-old Sacramento resident who also uses the surname Jackson, arrived at the security checkpoint on Saturday wearing latex gloves and a face-covering scarf. He was carrying a suspicious collection of items, including an explosive device, a torch lighter, a knife, zip ties, and five cell phones.
According to prosecutors, one phone displayed a 15-minute countdown timer, while another showed a chilling message: “We will be awaiting your call.”
Device Analysis
Bomb technicians examined the device—a cardboard tube fitted with a fuse—and determined it contained viable explosive material. Federal officials warned that if detonated next to a window on a pressurized aircraft at cruising altitude, it could have damaged the plane and potentially caused a loss of cabin pressure.
The TSA released an image of the alleged device, which officials said could have inflicted serious damage to an airplane.
Legal Proceedings
Jones was arrested at the airport and appeared in federal court on Wednesday. He faces a charge of unlawfully possessing explosive material in an airport.
His attorney has pushed back on the government’s account, stating that there is more to the case than the allegations currently made public and that further details will emerge through the legal process.
