Kimani Osayande Jones Arrested With Explosive at Sacramento Airport, Facing 5 Years
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · Jun 3
Kimani Osayande Jones Arrested With Explosive at Sacramento Airport, Facing 5 Years
3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Jun 3
Summary
Kimani Osayande Jones, 49, was detained at Sacramento International Airport on Saturday after TSA officers allegedly found an improvised M-type explosive in his carry-on at a security checkpoint.
Bomb technicians removed the device, and TSA said later testing found its powder and fuse were viable; investigators said a mid-air blast near a window could have damaged the aircraft and caused cabin-pressure loss.
His bag also held a torch lighter, knife, scissors, scissor blades, aerosol can and zip ties, while five cellphones included one set with a 15-minute timer and another showing a message reading, "we will be awaiting your call."
Federal prosecutors charged Jones with unlawful possession of explosive material at an airport; he is being held without bail and faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.
The affidavit said Jones had contacted the FBI tip line 13 times this year, including the day of his arrest, and noted prior local-authority contact describing a history of paranoia.
Was the Sacramento airport bomb threat a lone act, or does the cryptic phone message reveal a larger plot?
How did a man with a viable bomb and multiple weapons manage to reach an airport security checkpoint undetected?
After 13 paranoid calls to the FBI, was the airport bomb scare a terror plot or a desperate cry for help?
Sacramento Airport Bomb Plot Foiled: Inside the May 30, 2026 Attempted Attack and Its Aftermath
Overview
On May 30, 2026, a major disaster was narrowly avoided at Sacramento International Airport when TSA agents discovered a viable M-type explosive device and other dangerous items in Kimani Osayande Jones’s carry-on during routine screening. Their quick action, along with bomb technicians from the sheriff’s office and FBI, safely neutralized the threat. Jones, who has a history of paranoia and had made multiple reports of being threatened, was arrested and charged federally. The investigation is ongoing, focusing on his motives and whether he acted alone, while the incident highlights the effectiveness of airport security protocols in protecting the public.