US soldier: He didn’t see explosives while packing

MIDLAND, Texas (AP) – A soldier accused of having explosives in his carry-on luggage when he entered a Texas airport told investigators he didn’t notice any while packing.

Trey Scott Atwater of Fort Bragg, N.C., was to be arraigned Tuesday in federal court. Authorities say the 30-year-old went through a security checkpoint Saturday at Midland International Airport with C-4, a powerful explosive.

Court documents say Atwater told the FBI he’s a demolitions expert who returned from Afghanistan in April. He said his Army special forces team always carried C-4, but he didn’t know it was in his bag when he returned to the U.S.

Atwater has been charged with trying to bring explosives onto an airplane.

Atwater and his family were headed back to North Carolina after visiting relatives when he was arrested.