A passenger at a Nebraska airport was arrested after Transportation Security Administration officers allegedly found a homemade explosive device in his carry-on luggage.
Che Kristian Salpas, 27, was taken into custody at Omaha’s Eppley Airfield on September 5 after screening equipment reportedly detected a four-inch cardboard device concealed inside an empty pill bottle in his carry-on bag, according to a criminal complaint reviewed by the Daily Mail.
Court documents state that Salpas had been traveling from his parents’ Nebraska home to Salt Lake City, Utah, when TSA personnel made the discovery.
Salpas allegedly denied that the item belonged to him. He told agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that he had previously seen the “firework” at his parents’ house but did not know how it ended up in his bag, which also contained rocks and a lighter.
The TSA drew attention to the episode in an Instagram post published a day before the 25th anniversary of 9/11. “Nothing punny about this one… A passenger at OMA airport claimed their parents bought the item, and they forgot it was in their bag,” the agency wrote.
“Must have been a hard pill to swallow when they were ARRESTED.”
But the joking tone prompted criticism online, with some social media users arguing that the TSA had been overly casual about an incident involving a suspected explosive.
“I don’t think it’s funny at all to be tweeting and making light of these items. Would like to see more serious commentary from TSA this is concerning,” one commenter wrote.
Che Kristian Salpas was arrested at Eppley Airfield on September 5 after authorities allegedly found a four-inch cardboard explosive device concealed in his bag.
The object reportedly appeared green on screening equipment, signaling suspected energetic material, police said. A bomb squad officer later concluded that it was an explosive device.
‘TSA could catch a lawsuit for this today maybe y’all should stop playing because you guys don’t take things like this as a joke but you’re making the USA look like a clown,’ another added.
‘Wrong way to honor the anniversary,’ a third person added.
The device was allegedly discovered when Salpas’ bags went through the scanners, where agents said they saw a 4×1 tube filled with powder in his bag that lit up neon green, indicating suspected energetic material.
The blue and red striped tube had a green hobby/cannon fuse attached to its center and end caps on each end, per the complaint.
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An Omaha bomb squad officer determined it was an explosive device that was meant to blow up after the powder was initiated.
Salpas’s alleged bomb was taken out of the airport by local police.
He was scheduled to fly to Salt Lake City on Delta Flight 3815 in seat 10A at 12.42pm on September 5.
Instead, Salpas was charged with carrying an explosive into an airport and booked into the Douglas County Jail, where he remains.
On Thursday, TSA made fun of the potential bomb in a tone-deaf post the day before the 25th anniversary of 9/11
A lighter and other items were allegedly found in Salpas’ bag
The explosive device was allegedly found in a pill container inside Salpas’ bag
The incident unfolded at Omaha’s Eppley Airport in Nebraska earlier this month
TSA was born out of the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attack to prevent similar tragedies from happening.
The agency marked the 25th anniversary in a press release, stating its mission is to ‘strengthen transportation security and restore confidence in the aviation system.’
‘For 25 years, the men and women of TSA have carried out this mission with vigilance, professionalism and an unwavering commitment to the American people,’ TSA Administrator David P Cummins said in a statement.
‘As we remember those we lost on September 11 and honor the service that followed, we also look ahead. The threats we face today are sophisticated and constantly evolving.’
Nearly 3,000 people died on that fateful day 25 years ago, the majority of them inside the Twin Towers and on the planes that crashed into the buildings in New York City.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Salpas’ lawyer and TSA for comment.