Man arrested for telling TSA screeners: 'I have a bomb'

Ben Mutzabaugh | USA TODAY

UPDATE: N.C. man denies telling TSA screeners he had a bomb

ORIGINAL REPORT: Most travelers know that joking about bombs is a big "no-no" at airport security checkpoints. But it's a lesson one North Carolina man is learning the hard way.

Police say 26-year-old Jordan Rickard is due in court Tuesday after he allegedly said he had a bomb at Connecticut's Bradley International Airport. He allegedly made the comments Monday afternoon while he was being screened at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint.

TSA officers asked Rickard if he had anything in his pockets after he was selected for additional screening, NBC Connecticut reports. Police say Rickard's answer was: "Yes, I have a bomb."

Airport director Kevin Dillon tells The Associated Press the incident happened at 3:12 p.m. ET and forced security screening to be halted for about 25 minutes. Screening resumed at 3:37 "once state police were satisfied there was no real threat," The Hartford Courant reports. Fortunately for fliers, the terminal was not evacuated.

Rickard is being held on $25,000 bail and now faces several criminal charges, Lt. J. Paul Vance of the Connecticut State Police says to The Republican newspaper of Springfield, Mass.