The Federal Bureau of Investigation charged an air traffic controller at Charlotte Douglas International Airport with possession of a weapon of mass destruction.
The Federal Aviation Administration employee was identified as 30-year-old Paul George Dandan and he was arrested on Friday.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police (CMPD) officers received a 911 call on November 3 about reports that a person is in possession of a homemade explosive device in the 300 block of Minitree Lane. The officers responded and they confirmed that CMPD bomb squad agents confirmed that the suspicious object was a homemade pipe bomb.
The investigators also found out that Derrick Fells, 39, built the explosive device. He confessed later to the detectives working on the case that he made the bomb so he could use it against a neighbor. He changed his mind, however, and opted to just give away the bomb to Dandan.
CMPD said that according to the Charlotte Douglas Airport, Dandon as air traffic controller had access to the offsite air traffic control tower and could not access any forbidden or restricted area of the terminal or ramp.
The authorities got warrants against Fells and Dandan. Fells was charged with three counts of manufacturing a weapon of mass destruction and one count of possession of a weapon of mass destruction and transporting a weapon of mass destruction.
Dandan is being held in the Mecklenburg County Jail for less than $45,000 bond.
The FBI is assisting the CMPD with their probe and at this point, they don’t expect federal charges to be filed against Dandan.
The FAA issued an announcement that it was severing ties with Dandan and that his access to the facility has been terminated as well. The FAA also promised to give their full cooperation with the authorities.
Dandan was arrested and charged with assault on a female in March of 2015.
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