TAMPA, Fla., July 31 (UPI) -- An airplane passenger was arrested Sunday after a security breach allowed the man to carry a knife onto a plane in Tampa, airport officials said.
Philippe Francois Martinez, 43, of Clearwater, Fla., was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, the St. Petersburg Times reported.
Transportation Security Administration personnel noticed the knife while Martinez was going through security screening and alerted airport police, said airport spokeswoman Brenda Geoghagan.
Martinez was able to reach his plane because police officers first detained and searched the wrong man, then had to shut down security screenings at the terminal.
Police later found Martinez aboard an American Airlines flight to Miami. They searched the man's carry-on and found the knife.
"This was a very unintentional incident," Geoghagan said.
Martinez was set to travel from Miami to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The incident caused a 10-minute delay for the American Airlines flight, and 15- and 40-minute delays for two US Airways flights.
TSA does not permit knives in carry-on luggage, except for plastic or butter knives. Other kinds of knives are permitted in checked luggage.
