Air traffic controller charged with possession of ‘weapon of mass destruction’
An air traffic controller based at Charlotte Douglas International Airport was arrested and charged with possessing a weapon of mass destruction.
The arrest of Paul George Dandan, 30, followed a tip saying there was a homemade pipe bomb at a Charlotte home.
Investigators discovered the explosive was made by another man, 39-year-old Derrick Fells.
Fells had planned to ‘use it against a neighbor with whom he was involved in an ongoing dispute’ but backed out of that and gave it to Dandan, according to investigators.
Both men were released from custody and due to appear in district court Monday.
Fells was charged with three counts of manufacturing a weapon of mass destruction and one count of possession of a WMD.
Police did not say what Dandan had intended to do with the bomb.
The Federal Aviation Administration said Dandan’s access to the airport ‘was terminated.’
"The FAA employee only had access to the "offsite air traffic control tower and had no access to the restricted areas of the terminal or ramp," a statement from the airport said.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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