Retired Pilot Arrested After Flares Found In Luggage

ATLANTA — The Clayton County Sheriff's Office e-mailed Channel 2 Action News a mug shot of a retired Eastern Airlines pilot arrested at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Don Oberlander, 57, of Cumming, is accused of having signal flares in a metal tube inside his checked luggage on Monday. The bomb squad was called and the baggage screening area was evacuated as a result, said a spokesman for the Transportation Safety Administration.

Oberlander said it was a mistake and thinks police were right to arrest him.

He said he was flying to Houston to pick up a small plane and wanted the flares just in case anything went wrong on his return flight.

Oberlander faces a misdemeanor reckless conduct charge.

WSBTV