Teen Allowed on Plane After Pipe Bomb Confiscated

A pipe bomb in his carry-on bag wasn't enough to get Skylar Murphy, 18, kicked off his international flight from Canada's Edmonton International Airport. Officers discovered the bomb, as well as black powder, in Murphy's bag in September; though they took the items, they still let him board, CTV reports. It then took four days for Canada’s Air Transport Security Authority to call the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. After Murphy returned to Canada from an undisclosed location, he was arrested and ultimately pleaded guilty to possession of an explosive substance. He hasn't explained what he was doing with the device.

The punishment: A fine of about $100 and a year of probation, as well as a yearlong ban on possessing explosives, firearms, and ammunition. He's also required to donate $500 to the University of Alberta burn unit, CBC reports. "Screening officers do not have the authority to apprehend or detain passengers," a security rep tells CBC. "When they see something potentially illegal, the(y) contact the police." But a security expert tells CTV that "no one wants to take responsibility for what is obviously a series of mistakes." (More teenager stories.)