Photo: Shutterstock A federal grand jury in the United States has indicted 49-year-old Kimani Osayande Jones, aka Kimani Osayande Jackson, of Sacramento, California, after he allegedly attempted to load an explosive device onto a passenger flight from Sacramento International Airport.
According to the federal prosecutor's statement, the incident occurred on May 30, 2026, when Jones arrived at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security checkpoint at the airport, on his way to board American Airlines Flight 2464. He allegedly wore latex gloves and a scarf that covered his face as he attempted to pass through the checkpoint.
A search of his handbag found an improvised explosive device, a lighter capable of igniting the device, a knife, scissors, blades, a spray can, and handcuffs. Authorities also found five cell phones in his possession, one of which was displayed with a 15-minute timer that was ready to go.
Sacramento County Sheriff's Department bomb squad officers and an FBI bomb disposal agent safely defused the device. Subsequent testing revealed that the explosive and fuse were active and capable of actual ignition.
According to the researchers, the explosion of the bomb could have caused injuries, and in a scenario where it had exploded near a window in an airplane at an altitude of about 3 km above sea level, it could have even caused damage to the airplane and loss of pressure in the passenger cabin.
Jones is charged with attempting to place a destructive device on an aircraft, possessing an explosive device at an airport, and attempting to load a dangerous weapon or explosive device onto an aircraft. If convicted on all charges, he faces significant prison sentences of up to 20 years on the main charge, along with additional prison sentences and fines on the other offenses.
The investigation into the case is being conducted by the FBI and the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department. The lawsuit emphasized that the indictment is only allegations at this stage, and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.