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Man charged after ‘mock IED’ found inside suitcase at Pearson Airport granted bail

Click to play video: 'United Airlines flight grounded at Toronto’s Pearson Airport after ‘mock IED’ found'
United Airlines flight grounded at Toronto’s Pearson Airport after ‘mock IED’ found
WATCH ABOVE: United Airlines flight grounded at Toronto’s Pearson Airport after ‘mock IED’ found – Apr 6, 2017

A 58-year-old American man accused of bringing a “mock improvised explosive device” to Toronto Pearson International airport which forced the grounding of a Chicago-bound United Airlines flight for several hours, has been granted bail.

Joseph Galaska was charged with one count of mischief after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers located a mock IED inside a suitcase in the pre-clearance area of the airport.

Peel Regional Police said their explosive disposal team examined the device and determined it was not a threat.

Galaska appeared in a Brampton, Ont. court on Friday and was granted $5,000 bail with conditions not to possess weapons or explosives. He is expected to be released once his son comes to get him over the weekend.

WATCH: Police charged Joseph Galaska of Wisconsin with mischief after the discovery caused the cancellation of a Chicago-bound flight. Mark Carcasole reports.

Click to play video: 'Man accused of carrying fake IED in his luggage makes bail'
Man accused of carrying fake IED in his luggage makes bail

He is scheduled to be back in court on April 24.

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United Airlines flight 547, which was scheduled to depart Thursday at 7 a.m. and arrive at Chicago O’Hare airport at 10 a.m. ET, had its pre-clearance privileges revoked due to the security breach.

Passengers who spent nearly four hours on the tarmac had their plane taxied to an isolation area where they were eventually searched by American and Canadian border authorities before being released.

A U.S. customs spokesperson said Thursday the aircraft was inspected, including the rescreening of all travellers and baggage, and normal operations resumed after the plane was cleared.

Airport officials said the security breach had no impact on other airport operations.

VIDEO: Fake explosive device forced grounding of United Airlines flight at Toronto Pearson Airport

Click to play video: 'Fake explosive device forced grounding of United Airlines flight at Toronto Pearson Airport'
Fake explosive device forced grounding of United Airlines flight at Toronto Pearson Airport

 

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