OKC Bomb Squad Responds After TSA Finds Replica Detonators In Checked Bag

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said an item that appeared to be a possible pipe bomb on a luggage X-ray scan turned out to be very realistic replica detonators used for training, but they still couldn’t fly.

TSA Officer Faith Stonebraker was working in the checked baggage resolution area at Oklahoma City’s Will Rogers World Airport when she saw a “concerning” X-ray image.

“I saw multiple alarming items in what appeared to be a hard-sided case,” said Stonebraker, who has 12 years of screening experience. “I suspected the first alarming item and was able to clear the two other alarms.”

Supervisory TSA Officer Michael Tippie reviewed the X-ray and saw what appeared to be a mass inside a “pipe-like object.”

“Although the item had a valve on one end and did not appear consistent with a typical pipe bomb, I was not comfortable ruling it out as a potential threat,” said Tippie, who an 18-year veteran of TSA. “I had never seen anything like it, but I remember thinking, This looks like very expensive equipment.’ What caused me concern was the multiple explosives trace detection alarms, and there was a mass inside a pipe-like item I could not resolve.”

Tippie passed those concerns along to TSA OKC Explosives Specialist Patrick McKee, who determined the suspicious device included what appeared to be dummy training detonators. McKee also recognized the training detonators were housed within fracking equipment used for extracting oil and natural gas.

“I immediately recognized the items, as I am commonly called on similar equipment related to oilfield explosives operations, which are discovered quite frequently,” McKee said. “We are in Oklahoma, after all. I quickly turned to determine whether any explosive components were present.”

Despite suspecting the device was likely a replica, McKee nevertheless called in the Oklahoma City Bomb Squad as a precaution.

“The possible threat’ detonators were visible from the outset of my inspection, but there was no way to know if the DUMMY’ markings were genuine, and they were only partially visible on one of the detonators,” McKee explained. “If there is a possible explosive threat identified, the only option is to elevate to law enforcement and the bomb squad.”

The bomb squad removed the detonators from the device and determined the items were safe. Nevertheless, TSA said they couldn’t fly.

“Even inert explosives and improvised explosive device (IED) components are not allowed on aircraft because TSA officers cannot reliably determine whether such materials are inert,” Tippie explained. “Given the seriousness of the potential consequences, it is not appropriate to allow any item that replicates an IED or IED component on an aircraft.”

TSA Oklahoma Federal Security Director Mathew Ketchum said the team made an “outstanding catch.”

“I’m extremely proud of our TSA OKC team for this outstanding catch,” said Ketchum. “Our officers remained focused, followed their training and prevented an item resembling an explosive device from getting on board the plane. Their professionalism and attention to detail every day keep travelers and our transportation system secure.”