Will Rogers Airport Screeners Commended For Discovery of Explosives in Luggage

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Three screeners got pats on the back for their roles in finding a pipe bomb in carryon luggage at Will Rogers World Airport here.

Transportation Security Administration officials honored Flossie Ridley, Victor Kunnath and supervisor Doug Bentley during a news conference on Wednesday.

Ridley noticed a suspicious item Aug. 10 while working in the X-ray area of a security checkpoint. Kunnath searched the bag belonging to University of Oklahoma student Charles Alfred Dreyling Jr., then called in Bentley to report his discovery.

Bentley contacted authorities, who arrested Dreyling, 24, for attempting to board an airplane with an explosive device.

Dreyling is free on $10,000 bail and will attend classes at the university this fall.

He's due back in federal court Aug. 31.

Copyright 2005 Associated Press