By Shahram Vahdany

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From a June 23, 2009, incident report by David Knepper, a policeman at Columbus Airport, in Columbus, Ohio. A CTX is a machine that screens for items that have the same density as explosives.

I was called to investigate an unattended package at South Departures CTX. Upon my arrival, I observed a small backpack, sitting on the floor in front of the doors that lead to CTX machine. My K-9 searched the bag and did not show any signs that it detected explosives. TSA officer Dustin Epperson opened the bag and determined that it was a diaper bag. Dustin also informed me that he had a small can that was from India that set off the alarm in the CTX. It had been resealed with some type of solder. Dustin stated that he X-rayed the can and that it appeared to have some kind of solid in it, but not powdered milk, which was printed on the can.

The owner of the can was contacted, escorted off Southwest plane, and brought to the location. Jyotsna Verma stated that the can was from her mother and had pickles in it. I asked her why the can was resealed. Verma stated that her mother reuses cans to save money. I asked her why her mother did not put things like this in jars like most people do. Verma did not know.

Sgt. Bekemeire arrived on the scene and made the decision to notify the bomb squad. The Columbus Fire Department Bomb Squad arrived on the scene, as did members of Join Terrorism Task Force and FBI. The can was placed into the bomb-containment vessel and transported to the safe site. The Fire Department blew the can open and determined that the contents appeared to be pickled mangoes.