Aug. 17, 2010 (United Press International) -- A British man says he flew on two U.S. airline flights carrying more than 200 fireworks -- and a lighter.
Paul Jones, 29, of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, says he flew on Continental Airlines (NYSE:CAL) from Kansas to Houston and then back to the United Kingdom with the fireworks he had purchased in Wichita, the BBC reported Tuesday.
It was only on arriving at Britain's Heathrow Airport that security officials expressed concern, he said.
Jones, visiting Wichita during Independence Day celebrations, bought the Black Cat fireworks to take back to Manchester, he said.
"I put them in my pocket, walked through then put them on a grey tray at the customs and security," he said. "They had to go through the x-ray."
A spokesman for Continental Airlines said it did not have a record of the incident, and that security screening of passengers was the responsibility of the Transportation Security Administration.
"However, our airport agents are trained to respond immediately they become aware of any security breach," he added.
"We warn customers on our Web site about hazardous materials, which are prohibited on aircraft under federal law, and the list includes fireworks."
