Man Charged After Attempting To Board Plane With Fireworks At Philadelphia International Airport
By Steve Beck and Walt Hunter
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A man has been charged after he attempted to board a plane with fireworks and a suspicious container in Philadelphia early Thursday morning.
Joseph A. Picklo, 29, has been federally charged with possession of a destructive device.
"They certainly are serious charges because this is a very serious matter. These are not items that you would wanna fly on an airplane," Inspector Joseph Sullivan of the Philadelphia Police Department explained.
According to sources, Picklo, of Dallas, Pa., was taken into custody at Philadelphia International Airport after suspicious materials were found in his carry-on luggage by security.
Sources say three M-80 fireworks, a canister containing black aluminum powder that was wrapped in black electrical tape and a lighter were found in Picklo's carry-on luggage.
Police sources tell Eyewitness News that Picklo told authorities that he was "blowing stuff up" over the weekend and simply forgot he had the items in his possession.
"He says that he has an interest in these items professionally and that he experiments with items and that he had forgotten they were in his luggage," Sullivan said.
He has been federally charged and remains in custody. Sullivan said more charges are possible as the investigation continues.
Picklo was attempting to board a flight to San Francisco. About 90 passengers eventually boarded the plane, while 10 remained behind to board another flight.
Because of the investigation, Terminal D was shutdown for approximately 30 minutes.
This incident is being investigated by the Philadelphia Police, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Transportation Security Administration, and the FBI.
If convicted, Picklo could face up to 10-years in prison.
