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Dynamite found on plane at Houston airport

Series of security scares disrupts flights in U.S.

HOUSTON: United States and Argentine authorities were investigating how a stick of dynamite in a college student's checked luggage ended up on a Houston-bound flight, one of seven security incidents that disrupted U.S. flights in a day.

There was no indication that terrorism was involved in any of the incidents, which caused two flights to be diverted, others to be delayed and passengers to be questioned.

The dynamite was discovered during a baggage search in an inspection station at Bush Intercontinental Airport shortly after Continental Airlines Flight 52 from Argentina landed early on Friday. Argentina's chief of airport security police, Marcelo Sain, said in a televised interview that authorities there were in contact with U.S. officials as they opened their own probe into how the explosive got into the baggage.

The student, 21-year-old Howard McFarland Fish, was charged with carrying an explosive aboard an aircraft and was in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Houston Fire Department assistant chief Omero Longoria said Mr. Fish told authorities he works in mining and often handles explosives.

Other security incidents disrupted flights from different airports in the country on the same day. — AP

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